Milking and Butter-Test Trials. 



299 



The points given are as follows : — 



One point for every pound of milk, ounces being worked out 

 in decimals ; 



One point for every ten days since calving, deducting the first 

 40 days ; maximum allowance for lactation, 12 points. 



At the Bath and West of England Society's shows, milking 

 trials have been held since 1898. The points are the same as 

 those at Tring, except that the average of the two milkings must 

 show 12 per cent, of total solids, of which not less than 3*25 per 

 cent, shall be fat. The cattle, as at Tring, are divided into two 

 classes, viz : those over and those under 903 lb. live weight. 



Milking trials have also been held for the past two years at the 

 Royal Dublin Society's Spring Show, the following being the 

 scale of points : — 



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

 two days' milkings ; 



Twenty points for every point of butter fat percentage ; 



Four points for every point of solids other than fat ; 



Ten points are deducted when the milk is under 3 per cent, 

 fat, and under 8*5 solids other than butter fat ; 



One point is given for every completed ten days since calving, 

 deducting the first forty days ; maximum allowance for lactation, 

 14 points. 



The conditions and points, under which the trials at these 

 different shows are conducted, have been set forth at length, as 

 they differ slightly one from another. In my opinion, there is 

 one condition which should be common to all, viz., that no 

 animal should be eligible for a prize if her milk contains less 

 than 3 percent, fat, or less than 8*5 per cent, of solids other than 

 fat, where a full analysis is made ; or less than 3 per cent, fat, 

 where the Gerber or Babcock system is used. 



Butter-Test Trials. 



Trials to ascertain the amount of butter yielded by a cow in 

 a given time, by the practical test of the churn, were first held in 

 1886, at the London Dairy Show, the prizes being given by the 

 English Jersey Cattle Society for pedigree Jerseys only. The 

 results were so satisfactory to breeders of those cattle that 

 similar prizes were offered to other societies, and now for some 



