AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE BERKELEY CIRCULAR No. 135 (August, 1915) BENJ. IDE WHEELER, PRESIDENT THOMAS FORSYTH HUNT, Dean and Director H. E. VAN NORMAN, Vice-Director and Dean University Farm School OFFICIAL TESTS OF DAIRY COWS. By F. W. Woll and Cora J. Hill. During the last few decades there has been an increasing tendency among our dairy farmers to pay more attention to actual performance and less to pedigree and conformation only, in buying and selling pure- bred cattle than was formerly the case. This has come largely as a result of the invention of the Babcock test in 1890 and the better appreciation of the differences in the productive capacities of different Fig. 1. Tilly Alcartra 123459, Holstein-Friesian, owned by A. W. Morris & Sons Corp., Woodland, California. Production for one year, 30,451.4 lbs. milk, containing 951.2 lbs. butter fat (average tests 3.12 per cent). Production for 90 days, 8,803.7 lbs. milk, containing 289.039 lbs. fat. cows among dairy farmers brought about through the application of this test and of milk scales in dairy herds. The various breed associa- tions have shown their appreciation of this difference by establishing so-called advanced registers or registers of merit for cows that have produced above certain quantities of milk or butter fat during stated 18391 periods. In order that there should be no question as to the correctness of these records of production it was found desirable that they be determined by a wholly disinterested agency, and as a result the present system of official testing of dairy cows was gradually developed, through co-operation between various dairy breed associations and the agricul- tural colleges or experiment stations of the different states. At the present time the Guernsey, Jersey, Holstein, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss breed associations have adopted this plan of official testing and cows are entered in their advanced registers on the results of authenticated records of production made in official tests. The tests are conducted by representatives of the agricultural col- leges in the various states, who are held responsible by the general public for the correctness of the records made. It follows, therefore, in justice to all concerned that the colleges must take all possible pre- cautions against fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the tests, so that dairy farmers who buy stock largely on the strength of records made in official tests may have absolute assurance that these show the exact production of the cows at the time the tests were con- ducted. Without this assurance the tests would soon be of no benefit to any one. The official tests and the advanced registry records have been of the greatest value to breeders of dairy cattle, both from a financial point of view and as an aid in their breeding operations. A good record will greatly increase the value of both the cow herself and her off-spring and near relatives. It will also furnish important information for the selection of animals for breeding purposes with a view toward improve- ment in the off-spring and will give definite proof of the improvement that has been secured through selection and breeding. As the years go by the money value and general importance of the system of official testing to the dairy breeder and to the agriculture of our state will be likely to increase, and hence a careful supervision of the tests will become of increasing importance. The agricultural colleges have found it necessary to adopt stringent rules for the conduct of these tests and the supervisors detailed to make the tests are bound to observe these rules in every detail, in order to safeguard the good name of the tests and justify the confidence of dairy farmers or breeders in the correctness of the records made in them. These rules will be found at the close of this circular. Dairy tests in California. The official testing work in this state is done by the Division of Animal Husbandry of the College of Agri- culture, the writer having been placed in charge of the work. Two kinds of tests are conducted, viz., official and semi-official. The former (official tests) cover periods of from seven to thirty or sixty consecu- — 3 — tive days, during which the Supervisor is present at each and every milking, watches the cows milked, weighs, samples and tests the milk, and certifies under oath to the correctness of the record of production made by the cow. In the so-called semi-official tests for yearly records, the milk and butter fat production of the cows for two consecutive days every month is determined as in the official tests, and the average per cent of fat for this period is taken to represent the average quality of the milk for the month. The results of this test are reported to the secretary of the breed association concerned, to whom the owner of the cows reports the daily milk yields on the completion of each month; by multiplying the average per cent of fat in the milk for the two-day testing period by the total milk production during the month the esti- mated production of butter fat for the month is ascertained. The sum of credits for the months in a year during which the cow gives milk makes the record for the year. The milk yields reported by the owner are checked up in various ways by the respective breed associations so that they are doubtless, as a rule, accurate. While the figures for the production of butter fat for any one month obtained as described may not be absolutely correct, the yearly production calculated from the sum of the monthly data will be practically so, viz., within at least two per cent of the actual pro- duction, since any errors that may have occurred in the figures for the separate months through the assumption that the average quality of the milk for the month corresponds to that for the two-day testing period, will be evened up in the course of a year or of an entire lacta- tion period. Supervisors. In conducting official tests the College employs a number of young men, as a rule, graduates of the Agricultural College, the Farm School or the dairy short courses who are familiar with the Babcock test and modern dairy methods and who, we believe, possess the tact, integrity and strength of character called for in this work. The supervisors are employees of the College and of the State, and represent the College in this work at the ranches. Expense of tests. Since no special funds are available to defray the expenses connected with the tests and as the breeders whose cows are tested are the chief beneficiaries of the work certain charges are made for the tests that aim to cover all expenses connected therewith. In order to place all dairy farmers of the state on an equal footing, and as a matter of convenience in bookkeeping, flat rates have been charged for the conduct of dairy tests since November, 1914, as follows : For each 2-day monthly test $7 50 For each 7-day test __ 25 00 For each 30-day test _ 80 00 For each additional day, per day __ - 3 00 2—18391 — 4 — These prices include all direct expenses of the tests to the breeder, except room and board of the supervisor while on duty, and trans- portation to and from depot. Sulfuric acid must be furnished by the breeder, as well as pint or quart jars or bottles for keeping milk samples, and a Babcock tester. A Babcock tester will be furnished by the College, if the breeder pays the express charges on the same from Davis and return. The College furnishes all other necessary apparatus for conducting tests, like galvanized iron box, provided with Yale lock and key, Babcock test bottles and pipette, 25 cc. com- posite sample pipette, acid measure, dividers, milk scale, thermometer, report blanks, etc. Number of cows that may be tested. The following statement shows the maximum number of cows that may be tested at a time : Maximum number of milkings per day Maximum number of cows Official tests Semi-official tests 4 times _ ___ ____ 6 8 3 times ______ ________ _ ._ _ ___ _ _ 10 2 times _ _ _ _ — 15 If cows placed on a test are milked different numbers of times a day, the maximum number to be tested at a time shall be that allowed for the larger number of milkings. The numbers of cows given above are as high as a conscientious and experienced supervisor can test at a time, when composite samples are taken, the calculations kept up to date, and the rules as to the super- vision of the tests are carefully observed in all details. Making applications for tests. Applications for tests should be made directly to the officer in charge of the advanced registry in the breed association concerned. A list of these officers is given below : Ayrshire breed Secretary, C. M. Winslow, Brandon, Vt. Brown Swiss breed Secretary, Ira Inman, Beloit, Wis. Guernsey breed Secretary, Wm. H. Caldwell, Peterboro, N. H. Holstein-Friesian breed— Superintendent, M. H. Gardner, Delavan, Wis. Jersey breed-— Secretary, R. M. Gow, 324 W. Twenty-third St., New York The owners should also arrange with the writer or with Miss C. J. Hill, Assistant in Dairy Tests, Budd Hall, Berkeley, Cal., for the con- duct of tests, at least a week before it is desired to have these commence, in order that a supervisor may be in readiness when wanted. Applica- tion for tests to be conducted within a certain month should be filed before the fifteenth of the month. Requirements for advanced registry. The dairy breed associations enter on their advanced registers all heifers and cows that have produced 5 — above certain quantities of butter fat, or milk and butter fat, during either seven consecutive days or one year, as shown by the reports of official tests certified to by the officer in charge of dairy tests of the College of Agriculture concerned. The following table shows the requirements for admission to the advanced registers of the various breed associations at the present time. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE ADVANCED REGISTERS OF BREED ASSOCIATIONS. Age Ayrshire. Year record. Pound3 milk Pounds butter fat Brown Swiss. Year record. Pounds milk Pounds butter fat Guernsey. Holstein Year record. Pounds butter fat 7 -day record. Pounds butter fat Jersey 7-day record. Pounds butter fat Year record. Pounds butter fat 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 6 years Pounds per day minimum 6,000 6,500 7,500 8,500 214.3 236.0 279.0 322.0 increase over tl.37 and $2.74 f.08 and $.12 *6,0OO 6,430 7,288 8,146 9,000 2.35 *222.0 238.5 271.3 304.2 337.0 .09 *250.5 287.0 323.5 360.0 *2* years. tFor cows in 2-year-old form. JFor cows in 3-year-old form. 7.2 8.8 10.4 12.0 .00439 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 250.5 287.0 323.5 360.0 There is no increase in the requirements for any breed after a cow is five years old, except in case of the Brown Swiss breed where six years is fixed as the full-age form. The age of a cow is taken at the beginning of the record in the case of the Guernsey, Jersey, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss breeds, while in the case of Holstein cows it is taken at the time of last calving. Tests of grade cows. While the cost of dairy tests, as a rule, pre- cludes the testing of other than pure-bred cows, it is often possible to include also some grade cows on the test when only a few cows are tested, and dairy farmers are urged to test all such cows which are large producers, as a year's record will greatly increase both their own value and that of their off -spring. In order to assist breeders and dairy farmers in securing records of all good dairy cows irrespective of their breeding, the College will arrange to supervise and certify to tests of grade and other cows for yearly records of production under similar conditions as those adopted for the conduct of yearly tests for pure- bred cows. f Official tests of dairy cows, 1914-15. The number of tests of pure- bred cows conducted for breeders in the state during the year ending May 1, 1915, was considerably higher than during previous years. The total number of cows whose production of milk and butter fat was determined was 567, against 428 during the preceding year, an increase of over 32 per cent. Of this number, 289 cows were tested once a month — 6 — for one-year records, while 287 cows, nearly all Holstein-Friesians, were tested for 7-day records, and a few for 14 or 30-day records. The names of breeders for whom tests were conducted during the year, and the number of cows tested in every case, are shown below : Number of cows on test for period given Tear 7 days 14 days 30 days Total Ayr shires : University Farm, Davis _._ 2 7 40 2 7 5 2 Guernseys : Elliott-Brant Rancho, Owensmouth 7 W. H. Dupee, Santee 40 Clayton R. Grice, Del Mar___ __ 2 Wm. H. Saylor, San Francisco___ 7 University Farm, Davis ______ 5 6 9 8 3 8 3 8 5 1 5 21 3 8 6 68 5 15 1 1 12 18 14 1 7 8 Holstein-Friesians : K. W. Abbott, Milpitas — _ 61 6 B. F. Anderson, Modesto 8 17 J. W. Benoit, Modesto 8 H. E. Cornwell, Modesto . 3 J. S. Gibson, Williams. 8 W. H. Ginn & Son, Corcoran__ _ _ 3 R. F. Guerin, Visalia . 1 9 J. H. Harlan Company, Woodland 2 7 Frank Hatch, Modesto . 1 Geo. S. Hewitt, Hardwick 5 7 10 Miss M. M. Holdridge, Modesto __ "~2~ 3 3 31 Fred Keisel, Sacramento 8 C. H. Lindley, Santa Cruz 8 A. A. Merkley, Sacramento . 6 A. W. Morris & Sons Corp., Woodland—- E. 0. McClure, Modesto 63 2 2 13 146 7 James McGillivray, Sacramento 3 4 22 Preston School, lone 1 H. and R Rowles, Modesto 1 James McAlister & Son, Chino 12 Geo. A. Smith, Corcoran 1 19 F. Stenzel, San Lorenzo 14 University Farm, Davis Alex Whaley, Tulare 7 1 9 7 Whittier State School, Whittier 4 5 12 Jerseys: California Polytechnic School, San Luis Obispo 374 5 2 2 J A Goodall, Turlock 7 18 13 15 18 14 1 22 1 7 7 7 W J Hackett, Ceres 18 13 N. H. Locke Company, Lockeford C G McFarland, Tulare 15 i ■ 18 G H Miller Modesto I 14 M F Nolan, Gardena 1 1 C N Odell Modesto 22 1 7 R L Waltz, Hanford 7 130 SUMMARY OF OFFICIAL DAIRY TESTS, 1914-15. Breed Total number of breeders Total number of cows tested Ayrshire _ 1 5 25 13 2 Guernsey _ __ _____ _ _ __ 61 Holstein __ _ _ _ __ _ __ ______ 374 Jersey 130 Totals *44 567 ( 41 different breeder Fifteen of the 7-day records made during the year came above 21 lbs. of butter fat, and three were above 24 lbs. Two of the latter are larger than any 7-day record made last year, viz., Tula De Kol Pietertje Neth- 2. Fidessa Bloom, Holstein-Friesian, owned by Miss M. M. Holdridge, Modesto, Record for 7 consecutive days at 8 years old, 571.5 lbs. milk, 26.831 lbs. butter Fig California fat (average fat content, 4.69 per cent) erland 106233, 567.7 lbs. milk, 27.057 lbs. butter fat, average per cent 4.75, and Fidessa Bloom 110841, 571.5 lbs. milk, 26.831 lbs. butter fat, average per cent 4.69. Both of these cows were owned by Miss M. M. Holdridge, Modesto. (See Fig. 2.) A third 7-day record may also be mentioned, viz., that of Tilly Alcartra 123459, owned by A. W. Morris & Sons Corp., Woodland, 632.3 lbs. milk, 24.162 lbs. butter fat, average fat content 3.82 per cent. This cow also has another record which is the most noteworthy of any made during the year, viz., the largest authenticated milk production for a year by a cow of any breed, 30,451.4 lbs. milk; this quantity of milk contained 951.87 lbs. butter fat. So far as is known this establishes the world 's milk record for this period. The facts that the cow finished the year's test in excellent condition, that she dropped a strong, healthy bull calf about two months after the completion of the test, and that she produced 289.04 lbs. of butter fat on an official 90-day test during the subsequent lactation period render the year's record a still more creditable accomplishment. (See Fig. 3.) A new state record for the Jersey breed has been established during the year by the cow, Pearl of Venadera, 208644, owned by Guy H. Miller, Modesto, producing 11,723.9 lbs. of milk and 702.69 lbs. of butter fat, equivalent to about 826 lbs. of commercial butter. (See Fig. 4.) Rules governing the conduct of dairy tests. The rules that have been adopted for the testing of dairy cows by the different breed associ- Fig. 3. Tula De Kol Pietertje Netherland, Holstein-Friesian, owned by Miss M. M. Holdridge, Modesto, California. Record for 7 consecutive days at 7 years old, 569.7 lbs. milk, 27.057 lbs. butter fat (average fat content, 4.75 per cent). ations differ slightly ; they are given on the report blanks or printed circulars issued by the associations. In addition, this College has adopted certain directions for supervisors in conducting dairy tests, which are given below. These are substantially the same as are in force in other states and under which official tests have been conducted in this country during the past twenty years. Breeders for whom tests are conducted are urged to co-operate with the College in the enforce- ment of these rules ; it is primarily to their advantage that the good name of the dairy tests shall not be allowed to suffer through a lack of care in the supervision of the tests or a failure to observe the precau- tions that experience has shown to be necessary in their conduct. The rules follow: 1. The Supervisor shall be present at the last regular milking pre- ceding the beginning of the test and shall satisfy himself that the cow is milked dry at that time. He shall note the hour at which the milking is made, and the final milking on the test, whatever its length, must be at exactly the same hour of the day. 2. He must be present at each and every milking of the cow on the test during its progress and must satisfy himself that at the close of each milking the pail contains nothing but the milk drawn from the cow. Fig. 4. Pearl of Venadera, Jersey 208,644, owned by Guy H. Miller, Modesto, Cali- fornia. Highest record for production of butter fat for one year for Jerseys in the State. 702.69 lbs., equivalent to 826 lbs. commercial butter. 3. Under no circumstances shall more than one cow undergoing tests be milked at the same time. The Supervisor must in every case be in a position to observe the milker during the progress of the entire milking. 4. Immediately after the milk is drawn at each milking he shall take charge of the pail and contents, weigh the same on scales provided by the Station, and enter the exact weight of milk at once on his records. 5. As soon as the milk has been weighed, it shall be thoroughly mixed by pouring it from one pail to another, or by means of a dipper, and a pint fruit jar immediately filled about two-thirds full of milk for the test sample. The Supervisor takes charge of and is personally respon- sible for this sample which must be kept under lock and key until tested. The test is proceeded with as soon as convenient after the milk has cooled to ordinary room temperature. 6. The Supervisor shall make duplicate fat determinations of every milking during the progress of the test and both determinations, as — 10 — well as the average, are recorded. The sample taken of any one milking must not be thrown away until a perfectly satisfactory test of the milk- ing has been obtained. Readings of the results are made at a tempera- ture of 130 to 140° F. In case of hand machines or electric-driven testers the test bottles are preferably placed for a few minutes in a small tin pail containing water of this temperature before the readings are taken. If duplicates vary more than .2 per cent the test must be repeated. On completion of each test the Supervisor shall enter at once, in ink or indelible pencil, the results obtained on the proper blanks. In mak- ing entries of the yield of fat, three decimal places .shall be recorded. If the figure in the fourth place be a 5 or greater than 5, he shall increase the third decimal figure by one ; but if the fourth figure be less than 5, no increase is made in the third decimal figure. 7. If any of the milk or the test sample from a milking be accidentally lost, the missing weight of the milk or the fat credited to this milking shall be estimated by taking the average of the four nearest milkings during the test; if, e. g., the evening milking is lost or the test sample therefrom, the average weights of milk or fat of the four nearest even- ing milkings during the test is to be taken as the yield of milk or fat for the lost milking. It must be stated on the report that the figures so obtained are estimated and not actual. 8. Composite-test sample. At the time the test samples of the milk are measured out a sample comprising as many cubic centimeters as the number of pounds in the milking, or a multiple thereof, is placed in a clean pint fruit jar containing a small quantity of preservative, for the composite-test sample to be forwarded to the station on completion of the test. A 25 cc. glass pipette for taking this sample is furnished in every outfit. The Supervisor shall be responsible for the proper care and handling of the composite sample, and shall forward it to University Farm, Davis, Cal., immediately on the completion of the test. 9. The Supervisor shall fill out all blanks required by the Station and the respective breed associations on completion of the test, and shall forward these promptly for verification to the officer of the Station in charge of dairy tests. A copy of the results of the tests shall be left w T ith the owner of the cows. 10. The Station representative is not at liberty to decide which stipu- lations contained herein are essential and which are not, but is required to observe these directions in every detail. He shall report at once to the officer of the Station in charge of dairy tests any irregularity or unusual occurrence in connection with the test that he may observe, and shall in general take all possible precautions to conduct a fair and equit- able test of the cows placed under his supervision. o