THE CHANNEL ISLAND DAIRY COWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2529, 3 September 1902, Page 9

THE CHANNEL ISLAND DAIRY COWS

ESf THE PAN-AMERICAN MODEL DAIRY BREED TEST OF SIX MONTHS.

The following interesting report has been taken from a Guernsey French newspaper, Tte Bailliage, Journal Official de la Societe Royale "d'Agriculture et d'Horticulture de Guernsey, by Mr A. Quertier, of Guerusey , Park, Mataura: — . The Live Stock Department of the PanAmerican Exposition conducted for «x jhonths, during the cummer of 1901, a comparative test of various breeds of dairy cattle. Ten different breeds came forward to the competition. The* object of the test was two-fold — first, it gave the public an opportunity to see the various breeds and observe their characteristics, and their ability to produce dairy products under similar surroundiiuttu. seaoadlx, it juancd a. *?ssiajlz

conducted test of the breeds to snow which of them would make the greatest net profit upon each of the following point*: — (a) Production of butter-fat; (b) production of butter; (c) production of total solid m milk.

All the various breeders' associations were invited to furnish five representative cows. The Guernsey herd top the list, with the Jersey herd second. Having selected the cows and chosen the herdsman, the next point was to determine what course of action to pursue. It had resolved itself down to the simple question, Which breed will, during the entire six months, show in the aggregate the greatest profit along any of the three lines : First, butter-fat ; second, butter ; third, total solids?

One of the r*st considerations which came at hand was that of tho length of the test. It was not a question of which breed should, during any single week, show the greatest profit; nor was it $he one which showed the greatest profit at the opening of the work or at its closing. It was a pure and simple question of the greatest profit during the entiro cix months. The days came and passed, the weeks ended, and the months went by. One week the profit was to the credit of the Guernsey cow, another to the Jersey, another at some one else's hand. Yet when the final summing-up came the Guernsey had maintained her place, as she had done at previous impartial trials at experiment stations, as ehowing the, greatest profit in the production of butter. The Jersey maintained her place in the test of butterfat, being the highest test. It is hoped that -all breeders, and all impartial students of this work, will remember that the only standpoint from which the competing herds should be judged, in order to give justice to the breeds, and to those •who had charge of the Eaine, is tliat which tho rule established at the outset. It is true one may tajco the result of this or any other breed test and so combine and interpret the results as to bring out points in favour of whatever idea one may wish to advance. Again, it was seen tliat all breeds were to be judged from one standpoint — namely, that of profitable production. It was not a question of which would make the most butter or give the most miUt> but which breed would show the greatest profit. Suffice it to say, aa the result of the work, the Guernsey was placed first and the Jersey second. These Channel Island herds showed at the opening week of the test the greatest profit in the production of butter and butter-fat, and never for one moment during the entiro six months did they surrender their lead in aggregate profi^ on theee two points.

BEBULTS AS OFFICIALLY BEPOHTED

At the closing of the work in the forepart of November the records were carefully gone over and carefully checked by thoso in charge. After this was done we received the following official announcement of the work from Mr Converse, which,, shews the standing of ten breeds competing in the Model Dairy Breed Tebt in the different classes. AU awards of prizes t<> be on the net profit, determined by»the value of the product after deducting the cost of food. As Guernsey breeders it must be gratifying. It has shown that tiie Guernsey has the right to be classed among the best butter animals. The work at the World's Fair at Chicago and this work has proven that no ono breed has all the best cows, but that there are good points in all breeds, and that the Guernsey has shown the public she is willing to divide honours with all.

Aside from the official awards, the records show that the Guernsey cow, Mary Marshal, showed the greatest net profit isn butter production of any cow in the entire 50, her profit being 59d0l 41c. They also show that the Guernsey cow, Cassiopeia, stood third, with a profit of 50dol 42c, and the Guernsey cow. Procris of Paxtang, fifth, with a profit of 49d0l 49c, thus giving the Guernseys three of the best five cows. They also show that the Guernsey first and Jersey second made butter at the least cost per Ib, and returned the greatest profit for every dollar invested in food : — PROFIT FOE EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IK FOOD. Cost per lb Of Butter. Butter Fat. Butter.

During the entire time of the test there was exhibited in a glass case a sample of the butter made from the milk of each herd. This was made fresh once a week, and submitted to an expert, who scored same. Tho average score shows that the Guernsey butter ranked highest in flavour and colour (the Jerseys being second), thus being the best quality butter. I give these scorings in detail, believing they will be of interest. The score used in judging the butter was as follows: — Flavour, 45; grain, 25: colour, 15; salt, 10; finish, s;— total, 100.

AVERAGE BUTTER SCORES,

From these averages it will be seen that the qualities that have been claimed for the products were noticeable here. The desirable flavour, which has been go highly prized wherever Guernsey and Jersey milk and cream have been &old, we find in the butter.

The average per" cents, of butter-fat in the Babcock tests, of each week show the follow-

Here is shown the superiority of the Chauje^m&tim &} producers of rich milk.

"5 • — __ _ . _ . Highest. Lowest. Average. Ferseys 5.39 4.1G 4.82 Polled Jerseys .. 6.40 4.30 4.75 iuernseys .. „ 5.27 4.11 4.68 led Polled .. .. 4.5S 3.68 4.04 ?rench Canadians 4.76 3.66 4 04 .. .. 4.11 3.30 3.72 Biown Swiss .. .. 4.21 3.45 3.69 shorthorns .. .. 4.22 3.02 3.64 Dntah Belted .. .. 3.66 3.08 3.38 Jolstcins .. .. 8.66 2.94 3.31

Guernseys .. Jerseys Polled Jerseys French Canadian Brown Swiss Shorthorns Dutch Belted Bed Polled .. Holsteins Ayshixes 3 o % fa 41.64 41.25 41.07 40.75 40.95 40.89 40.92 40.86 40.75 40.55 I 24.83 24.90 24.09 24.07 24.55 24.43 24.87 24.34 24.26 24.42 §1 E I 14.97 10 5 96.34 14.66 10 5 95.80 14.67 10 5 95.64 14.02 10 5 94.08 14.28 10 5 94.78 14.27 10 5 04.59 14.17 10 5 94.47 14.27 10 5 94.47 14-38 10 5 94.39 14.15 10 5 94.12

Guernseys .. .* Jerseys French Canadians Pclled Jerseys Ayrshireg •.. Red Polled Hclsteins Brown Swiss Shorthorns Dutch Belted Cents. 9.31 9.48 9.76 9.80 9.81 10.27 10 93 11.11 12 10 13.G7 Dol. L 67 1.G3 1.56 1.54 1.54 1.43 1.27 1.24 1.06 0.86 Dol. 1.60 1.55 1.60 1.46 1.51 1.39 1.17 1.20 1.01 0.84