298 



Milking and Butter-Test Trials. 



awarded by the simple test of measure or weight, irrespective of 

 quality, composition, or the lapse of time since parturition, so 

 that the first trials did not show the real value of the cow, the 

 prizes generally going to those recently calved. As time went 

 on, fresh conditions were introduced, and the rules now in force 

 at the London Dairy Show are as follows : — 



Cows and heifers to compete must have calved fourteen 

 days before the opening of the show ; 



One point is.awarded for every ten days since calving, deduct- 

 ing the first forty days, with a maximum of 14 points ; 



One point for every pound of milk, taking the average of 

 two days' yield ; 



Twenty points for every pound of butter fat produced ; 



Four points for every pound of solids other than fat ; 



Deductions. — Ten points each time the fat is below 3 per 

 cent. ; 



Ten points each time the solids, other than fat, fall below 8*5 

 per cent. ; 



No prize is given in the milking trials unless the animals 



come up to the following standard : — . 



Pedigree Shorthorns ... ... ... ... 90 points. 



Non-pedigree Shorthorns ... ... ... 1 20 „ 



Jerseys... ... ... 95 ,, 



Guernseys ... ... ... ... ... 90 



Red Polled ... 90 



Ayrshires ... ... ... ... ... I OO 



Kerries and Dexters ... ... ... .... 75 ,, 



The next milking trials in order of date of institution are those 

 held at the Tring Agricultural Association's Show. These have 

 now been going on since 1893, and in actual numbers have far 

 surpassed any trials that have taken place in this country. They 

 have, always been open to all breeds and crosses, the classes 

 being divided into two, viz., those above" and those under 9CO lb. 

 live weight. The advantage that the Tring trials have over all 

 others is that all the cows competing have to be entered in 

 both the milking and butter-test classes, whereas at other shows 

 this is optional. The conditions at Tring are simpler than at 

 the Dairy Show, weight and lactation only being taken into 

 account, but where the milk contains less than 3 per cent, 

 fat disqualification follows. 



