THE DAIRY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2209, 22 August 1910, Page 7

THE DAIRY.

BREEDS OP COWS THAT GIVE THE RICHEST MILK. The dairy farmer who has to sell his milk at Bd., 9d., and 10. per gallon can give little heed to extreme richness. If he can keep on the safe side and observe the regulations by maintaining the percentage of butter fat all requirements are fully met, and all else that is desired is quantity rather than quality. This is -wholly understandable, but there are others who prefer quality in extreme. These are mainly those who keep cows for home supplies, and I fully agree with them. Those who trade in butter production should also be anxious to own ample givers of materials that go to its construction, and both will have to select cows that are differently constituted to the 3 per cent, butter fat givers. There are breeds conspicuous in average quality milk giving, and others with no great capabilities for quantity, but quality, and these must be gone in for where special richness is desired. The average cow gives milk showing a return of 3 J per cent, of milk fat, but some almost double this, and the positions they are most fitted for are clearly indicated. The I English Dairy Show, which is a standard furnisher in all dairying j matters, is lucid in its teachings in ! this direction. Two exceptional | Shorthorns gave 5.40 per cent, fat from 29Ibs. of milk, 5.01 from 24Ibs. 9 ozs. of milk, 4.49 from 291bs. of milk, and 4.49 from 27Ibs. 5 ozs. of milk, but the Jerseys exceeded all, and fully upheld their reputation as fat givers. In their case, 5.87 per cent, of fat was secured from 20tbs. of milk and 6.35 from 221bs. 6 oz. of milk. Kerries came before the Ayrshires in milk fat, and South Devons are ahead of the Red Polls. Among the two hundred cows exhibited only three failed to reach the offlciaJ standard. —* .

LACTIC ACID BACILLUS.

The medical profession has suddenly risen to the importance of lactic acid bacillus as a cure or preventive of intestinal indigestion. It would not be sufficiently dignified to speak of this important specific simply as sour or butter milk, but that virtually is what it is. It becomes much more pretentious and acceptable when distinguished by a scientific designation. It was stated in the annual report of the Wensleydale Pure Milk Society that a scheme has already been begun for providing the artiele, not simply as butter milk or sour milk, but as the Metchnikofi brand. The milk is first pasteurised, and then inoculated with pure cultures of the original Hungarian large lactic acid bacillus and the paralactic bacillus. The departure is meeting with an encouraging reception, a considerable trade in this class of milk having been already established. Many believe that cheese fulfills a similar function, though it is commonly regarded as a fruitful source of indigestion.

MILKING BREEDS OP JERSEY AND SHORTHORN. The milking records of the herds of Jersey and Shorthorn cows owned by Lord Rothschild at Tring Park for last year have been published. There were only 13 Jerseys in the herd throughout the year, and their average yield was 5,838 9-131b., tha indie vidual returns ranging from 2,6431b. to 9,0091b. The 16 that came into the herd during the year are credited with an estimated average of 6,384.451b. for the whole year, while the corresponding average for the 5'J that left the herd~was 5,637.741b. Of shorthorns, 50 completed the year in the herd, and their average yield was 6,502 6-501b., the highest individual yield being 12,2961b. The number brought into the herd was 28, and their estimated average for the full period was 8,989.511b., and the estimated average of the twenty-three weeded out 3,422.631b. The difference between the yields of the cows brought in and those of the cows that had gone out of the herd is significant of the advantage of tho milk-recording system.