The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-05-31

lions and doubtless he will find cases
where the test shows up things that he
cannot account for.
! Several years ago | had COW on
year test and that called for the taking of
sample from four consecutive milkings,
each month. This COW was in the prime
of life, in good flesh never was sick
day, never refused anything in the shape
of food that was placed before her, was
fed carefully compounded ration of uni
| form quantity, was fed and watered regu-
larly, was not a nervous animal She
was free mixer and gave very uni
: form quantity of milk, and yet there was
not month for the whole year when
per cent in the four samples and, in some
instances, the samples would range from
80 per cent to slightly over 7 per cent.
| This was, of course, an extreme case.
A cows test may vary from year to year,
because of her physical condition. If she
is fat, and fed so as to retain that fat to
considerable extent during the year, she
| will test higher than if she were thin in
| flesh. A change of food or environment
may temporarily change the butter fat of
the milk. | know COW that evidently
| slipped in her stall and threw out her
stifle early in the night; she could not
| get up and appeared to be in considerable
pain. In the morning, when the Stitle
! had been put in place and she was on her
/ feet, she gave nearly her usual quantity
of milk; but the sample of that milk,
| taken and tested by State official, show
ed over l per cent butter fat, while her
next milking showed over 10 per cent,
this COW produced for the day. Her nor
NAL test was practically per cent.
That there is considerable variation,
in some cases, in the test of milk and
cream by the creamerieS and milk con-
| tractors of New England, from month to
month"; is very evident and | am afraid
there is growing suspicion on the part
OF producers-many going so far as to de-
| clare that no matter what increase in
price is agreed upon, that, SO long as con-
| tractors and creameries do their own
sampling and testing, the farmer is pow
erless; that the increase in price is offset
by decrease in test and, in most cases.
they have the figures that, to casual OBJ
server, at least, would bear out their con-
| tentions. If such is the case, the facts
should most certainly be brought to the
attention of the N. E. NJ P. A. for in
gained solely to look after the interests
of New England dairymen. | believe,
however, that cases of premeditated dis
| honesty on the part of the creameries in
Maine are very few. But it may be that
employees are not always as careful as
they should be in taking the sample and
OF taking 1t every time lot comes in.
With so much depending on this little
sample, it is certainly up to the creamery
manager to see that their men do their
work faithfully in this matter and that
they also cooperate with the N. E. M P.
A. to bring about better understanding
with and greater confidence of the pro-
Queer. Public opinion may be either right
or wrong, but in either case it must be
reckoned with and, if wrong, it should be
set right The interests of the dairy bust
ness can best be served by having the
confidence of those engaged in it.
Maine Department of Agriculture,
John A. Roberts, Commissioner
| Nav 81 1917