Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-02

the -ring,-that is, collectively
those animals of the breed which by
common consent are the best from
whatever point of view-with gen.
eral average sample of the breed as a
whole as it exists in this country to-
day. Are the high performers--world $
record milking cows-more or less in
bred than the general average, of the
breed? The Station is now nearly rea
dy to give an answer to this interest
ing and significant question. 1t is ex-
pected that bulletin will be issued
regarding the matter sometime during
the winter This will be followed by
further studies involving other of the
dairy breeds with reference to the
same problem of inbreeding.
The second line of investigation un-
der way has to do with the inheritance
of the butter fat content of milk. This
problem is being approached from the
standpoint of the size and number Of
fat globules in relation to the butter
fat test of the milk. 1t is a Well
known fact that the different breeds
differ in the average size of their tat
globules. A thorough study is being
made to determine the nature and the
limits of the variation in regard to
both size and the number ef the fat
globules, and the manner in which
these qualities are inherited, when
breeds which differ in respect to them
are crossed together. Special appara-
tus has been provided for the work
upon an extensive scale of measuring
and counting the fat globules in milk
In connection with this last study is
TO be mentioned a comprehensive in
vestigation which has been begun re-
garding the laws of the normal varia-
ton in the fat content of milk, as de-
termined by the Babcock or similar
tests. Extensive records of the Scot
fish Milk Records Society are being
used for this work, which is being
started with the Ayrshire breed. An
analysis of the recorss by appropriate
statistical methods is well under way
Practically the only exact studies
on inheritance in cattle which have
been made up to this time have had
TO do solely with coat color Almost
nothing is known about the inheri-
lance of any other character of the an
imals. As an aid to the analysis of
the complicated question of the mode
OF inheritance OF milk productivity il
is desirable to have data regarding the
Inheritance of other characters of the
animal. From this point of view a
study has been undertaken, and near
ly completed, regarding the mode of
inheritance of the color of the tongue
in Jersey cattle. 1t is a we'll known
fact that in this breed animals with
black or dark tongues are preferred to
those with white or light tongues On
account of the definiteness of the char
acter it is one particularly favorable
TO the study of inheritance Conse-
quently an investigation has been
made of the manner in which this
character tongue color is inherited. 1t
has been found. that the character
strictly follows the ordinary laws of
Mendelian inheritance. Having this
information in hand it will be possible
for the breeder, if he so desires. to get
pure strain of Jerseys bearing the
black tongue. which will breed true
to this Characteristic
One of the most important lines Of
! investigation to be taken up in con-
nection with this dairy work is the