JOMftOFAIlICirimiSEARCH 
VoL. XXIV Washington, D. C., May 5, 1923 No. 5 
determination OE fatty acids in butter FAT: II ‘ 
By E. B. Hoeeand, Associate Chemist, and Mary E. Garvry, H. B. Pierce, Anne 
C. Messer, J. G. Archibaed, and C. O. Dunbar, Assistant Chemists, Massachusetts 
Agricultural Experiment Station 
INTRODUCTION 
Since the publication of an earlier report (7) * on the subject, work 
has been continued under rather adverse conditions due to numerous 
changes in staff and other unavoidable interruptions. The study of 
technical methods for fat analysis was undertaken solely for the pur¬ 
pose of evolving some scheme for determining the constituents of butter 
fat, particularly the dijfferent fatty acids, whereby the influence of 
various physiological factors might be more accurately measured. Suffi¬ 
cient progress having been made in the methods to warrant their appli¬ 
cation, several experiments were plsChned with the view of obtaining 
information relative to the effect of breed, period of lactation, and of 
different oils and fats in the ration. The aim of each experiment was 
to determine some distinct phase of the problem, supplemental to the 
others, and finally to summarize all available data, as indicated by the 
following synopsis: 
I. Composition of butter fat: . ^ 
1. From the milk of mixed herd, grade Holsteins and grade 
Jerseys, fed normal rations. 
2. From the milk of single animals, grade Holsteins and gjade 
Jerseys, comparatively fresh in lactation, fed normal rations. 
3. From the milk of single animals, grade Holsteins and grade 
Jerseys, fresh, intermediate, and late in lactation, fed normal 
rations. 
4. From mixed milk of grade Holsteins fed a normal ration with 
and without the addition of various oils and fats. 
II. Summary of data from Massachusetts and elsewhere, together 
with such general deductions as seem warranted. 
It is obvious at the outset that the number of trials will be too small 
and too limited in scope to furnish even a tithe of the information 
necessary to a full understanding of the problem, but the authors hope 
that the investigation may at least throw some light on a difficult sub¬ 
ject. All data, both descriptive and analytical, not deemed absolutely 
essential have been omitted to economize space. 
APPLICATION OE THE METHOD 
The cows used in the several experiments herein reported were grade 
Holsteins and grade Jerseys of the experiment station herd. They 
were housed in comfortable, well-lighted, and well-ventilated stables 
1 Accepted for publication July ii, 1922. Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts 
Agricultural Experiment Station. Submitted with the approval of the Director of the Station. 
“.Reference is made by number (italic) to "Literature cited,” pp. 397-398. 
Journal of Agricultural Researdi, 
Washington, D. C. 
ah 
VoL XXIV, No. 5 
May 5, 1923 
Key No. Mass.-& 
39362—23-1 
(36s) 
