4§4 



Butter Tests. 



[NOV., 



being in new and unfamiliar surroundings frequently give milk 

 of quite an abnormal character. 



When the Somerset County Council started their County Farm 

 at Bickenhall in 1900, it was decided to conduct such tests with 

 two breeds of cattle, viz., Jerseys and Shorthorns, and these 

 tests have been carried out continuously for a period of four 

 years. During the first year of the tenancy, the tests were 

 made monthly, but since then they have been conducted fort- 

 nightly. In all, eighty-six tests of this nature have been made. 

 During the last two years, similar tests have been made with the 

 North Devon breed of cattle, the total number of such tests 

 being twenty-five. The following table shows the average 

 number of pounds of Jersey, Shorthorn, and Devon milk which 

 in each year have been required to produce 1 lb. of butter. The 

 averages for the whole period are also shown : — 



Year. 



Shorthorn. 



Devon. 



Jersey. 





Lb. 



Lb. 



Lb. 



1900-I 



25-03 





19-94 



1901-2 



27-13 





18-89 



1902-3 



28-39 





19-92 



I903-4 • 



28-19 



23-40 



18-27 



I904-5 



26-95 



23-81 



I7-83 



Average for all ... 



27-92 



23-50 



19-09 



The average figures are not very dissimilar from those obtained 

 in public trials, though they are slightly more favourable, but 

 the fact that the cows are under settled conditions would con- 

 duce to such a result. In the table which follows are shown the 

 largest and the smallest quantity of milk of each breed required 

 to produce 1 lb. of butter : — 



Date. 



Shorthorn. 



Devon. 



Jersey. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



... 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



Highest. 



Lowest. 



1900- I 



1901- 2 



1902- 3 



19 0 3- 4 



1904- 5 



Lb. 



29- 7 

 41-02 

 39-02 



33 'J 



30- 00 



Lb. 

 22-53 



20-00 

 22-53 

 20-87 

 25-26 



Lb. 



25-81 

 24-61 



Lb. 



18-82 

 22-86 



Lb. 



22 00 

 25-00 

 23-53 



21-82 

 18-46 



Lb. 



*975 



15- 68 



I0'33 



16- 84 

 16-16 



I For whole period 



41-02 



20*00 



25-81 



18-82 



25-00 



15-68 



