The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-02-10
EASY TO TEST MILK
(From University Bulleting No. go
Introduction

AS the farmers of Idaho are realiz
ing the Importance and possibililic
OF systematic improvement OF thei
dairy breeds, there comes an increas
ing demand for information in 'regart
to operating the Babcock test. 4
great deal has been written abou
testing milk and large number O
Idaho farmers already use the Bah
cock test; but enough inquiries have
come to the writer to warrant the
assertion that the subject is not vel
fully understood. Many seem tt
have the idea that the Babcock test
is complicated, and at best, unre.
liable affair. This is an erroneous
idea and it should not be allowed
ia prevail. The test is simple, &C.
curate and easily mastered by any
one who will but give the matter
careful study and attention.
Within the past decade there has
sprung up in our public schools a
tremendous demand for more agri-
culture work. Something that will
bring the child into closer touch with
nature and in a measure make his
education more practical. There is
every reason why agriculture should
be more extensively taught in our
schools. 1t is here that the boys
and the girls as we'll, receive their
first impressions as to what is to
constitute one of the most practical
and useful lessons to everyone inter-
ested in the milk industry, whether
1t be from the consumers or produc-
ers standpoint, is the study of the fat
content of milk. To teach the
farmer boy or girl how to determine
the richness of milk is incidently
educating the future dairyman to a
higher standard of milk production,
and to so train the city child means
to interest the future milk consum-
ers in securing a higher standard
for the city milk supply.
In response to numerous inquiries
from teachers and farmers for infor-
nation in regard to the Babcock test
that have reached this department,
and with a desire to aid in every
possible way those who are interested
in learning how to operate the test,
mis- bulletin has been prepared
Importance of Sample
1t must be borne in mind that the
accuracy and value of the test depend !
not alone on the test itself but quite
as much on the proper taking of the |
sample. If that is improperly done
the results are of little value. For
example, the writer has known of |
cow-owners, who, when desiring to
test the milk of an individual cow
have taken the sample by milking
directly into the sample bottle. When
it is known that the first part of a
cows milk is largely water and the
last part or strippings is very rich
in fat, it is self-evident thatssuch
sample would yield results of little
value so far as determining the actual
richness Of that particular COW
milk. "
How to Mix SamDIe
The milk to be tested should be
poured from one can into another
several times, or carefully stirred
with stirrer until it is of uniform
mixture. The sample is then i'm
mediately taken, preferably with a
small, long-handled dipper. If the
testing cannot be done soon after
the sample is taken it must be placed
in an air-tight jar and some preser-
vative added to keep it sweet.
Measuring Sample
The Babcock test bottles are grad
uated on the supposition that an IS
gram sample is taken. Milk varies
little in it's specific gravity and
pipette graduated to hold 17.6 cubic
centimeters will deliver approximate
ly Is grams of milk. When the
sample is ready for testing the jar
it should be placed in
warm water and slowly heated to a
of about 70 degrees
Fahrenheit. Mix the sample we'll;
especially see that any cream which
may have gathered on the side of
the jar is carefully mixed with the,
other part of the sample. The meas
uring pipette is now filed to mark.
This is done by sucking the milk up
into the pipette above the mark; the
dry forefinger Immediately placed
over the top Of the pipette to pre-
vent the milk from escaping. BY
gently releasing the pressure the
milk is allowed to flow out until level
with the mark on the stem of the y