656 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XI, No. u 
Table V .—Influence of extreme age on composition and properties of milk and milk fat 
Cow No. 
Age of cow. 
Stage of lactation. 
Date of 
sample. 
Average daily 
milk. 
Composition of milk. 
Composition of fat. 
Total 
protein. 
Casein. 
Albumin 
and 
globulin. 
111 
Hi 
A* 
% 
| 
Ash. 
Saponifi¬ 
cation 
value. 
Reichert- 
Meissl 
number. 
Iodin 
value. 
Melting 
point. 
Yrs. 
Days. 
Lbs. 
P. ct. 
P.ct. 
P.ct. 
P.ct 
P.ct 
P. ct. 
P.ct 
Hubl. 
°C. 
<*124 
16 
182 
June 17-19 
26.3 
3- 20 
2.61 
0.59 
0.038 
4. 20 
4- 65 
0.72 
232.7 
30- 82 
27.74 
33-1 
1913■ - - ■ 
124 
16 
188 
June24~26, 
1913-.-. 
22.7 
3-21 
2.62 
•59 
•039 
4-3° 
5-oo 
•71 
234-2 
24- 55 
29.17 
33-1 
124 
19 
838 
May 16-18, 
1916.... 
7-3 
3-1* 
2.64 
•47 
•034 
4.80 
226.0 
28.39 
37-23 
33-3 
124 
19 
C864 
June 11-13, 
1916.... 
12.0 
3-^4 
2.96 
.68 
.042 
4- 50 
4-32 
•51 
224.0 
26.85 
35-64 
36-5 
«i6 
14 
227 
June 17-19, 
1913 
17.1 
3-37 
2.83 
•54 
.031 
4-15 
5-55 
•75 
231.1 
32.74 
29-73 
35-6 
16 
14 
333 
June 24-26, 
1913 
IS-1 
3-48 
2.95 
•53 
•039 
4.08 
S*3i 
.76 
228.9 
31.89 
3i-16 
37-0 
&403 
11 
155 
June 17-19, 
1913 
23-5 
2.88 
2.27 
.61 
•034 
3-63 
4.91 
.70 
224.5 
24.90 
35-12 
33-3 
403 
11 
161 
June 24-26, 
1913 ■ • ■ - 
21-5 
2. 89 
2.29 
. 60 
• 038 
3-63 
4.96 
.70 
225.1 
32-38 
35-58 
33-0 
a Jersey. & Shorthorn. c Cow was farrow. Duration of lactation was 1,000 days. 
These data fail to reveal any significant features of the composition 
of either the milk or the milk fat which can be attributed to advanced 
age. The milk of cow 124 in the nineteenth year of her age failed to show 
any abnormalities even after she had been in milk for the astonishingly 
long period of 864 days. It is true that the first analyses of the milk 
fat made in 1913 in the case of cows 124 and 16 showed a higher Reichert- 
Meissl than iodin value, as was observed by Klein and Kirsten (6) for the 
milk fat of a cow 13 years of age. Inasmuch as this relation was not 
borne out in the other analyses no significance can be attached to the 
two isolated cases. 
In order to obtain support for the statement of Klein and Kirsten that 
old cows no longer give normal butter, a semicommercial churning of 
butter from cow 124 was carried out with the milk obtained in May, 
1916. The cow was on pasture at the time and the butter churned out 
exceedingly rapidly and was very soft when first made. After harden¬ 
ing, however, it was judged by several persons, including the authors, 
to be of excellent quality. One-pound portions of the butter were 
packed in glass jars and placed in the refrigerator. After three months 
the butter was still of good quality, although it had developed a slightly 
old taste. It is evident that the statement of Klein and Kirsten does 
not hold true for all cases, for it was not supported by the case of cow 
124, which was much more advanced in years than any of the animals 
studied by these investigators. 
