28 AMERICAN DAIRYING. 



butter it is time for us to test to learn what 

 feed each individual cow consumes. The Penn- 

 sylvania Experiment Station has done some 

 work in this line, and with results that are in- 

 teresting, instructive and valuable. This work 

 is reported in "Bulletin No. 24." On page 11 

 of this bulletin we find that the cow Marguerite 

 produced 6,512 lbs, of milk and 296 lbs. of but- 

 ter, and the cow Ramona 5,459 lbs. of milk and 

 279 lbs. of butter. 



Judging these cows on the basis of the but- 

 ter made we would call Marguerite the best 

 cow, but when the cost of feed is deducted we 

 find that Marguerite has left to her credit $31.50 

 and Ramona has $61.50. In closing this bulletin 

 they say: 



The reader may regard these as extreme cases, and yet 

 they were selected from the ten animals used in this experi- 

 ment and we have no reason to doubt that as great difEerences 

 might be found in any ordinary herd. 



Unquestionably the presumption is in favor of the animal 

 producing the largest quantity of butter per year. On the 

 average this is true, but the most successful dairyman has 

 to deal with individuals rather than averages, otherwise it 

 will be impossible for him to derive the greatest possible 

 profit from his business. 



These facts are in no way applicable to the farmer who 

 has yet to learn what each animal in his herd is producing. 

 To him the use of the Baboock test and milk scales is of 

 paramount importance. But to the careful, thoughtful dairy- 

 man fhere is undoubtedly an opportunity for a great saving 

 by applying the feed test to each animal, as well as the but- 

 ter test, and weeding out those animals that do not make 

 satisfactory return for the food consumed. It is true that 



