DAIRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. Hon. S. C. Bassett, Gibbon, Nebraska, Assistant Superintendent It was first planned to give cash premiums in the Dairy and Dairy Products branch of the exhibits, but after due and full consideration the plan was modified as to dairy products and medals and diplomas were awarded the same as to general exhibitors in other departments of the Exposition. The dates determined upon for dairy products exhibits contemplated five separate exhibits on each class during the months of June, July, August, September and October. Cheese was to be exhibited in the month of October only. Rules governing the exhibit of dairy products were prepared and sent to prospective exhibitors. The list of those to whom awards were made, under this class of exhibits will be found in the list of diplomas and medals awarded to exhibitors in the report of the Bureau of Awards. It was planned to have a thorough system of refrigeration, that all the products might be properly kept and cared for. Owing to the difficulties in installing the refrigeration plant in the Dairy Building and the construction and suitable installation of the refrigeration boxes, the first exhibit of butter did not take place until in July. When put to the test the refrigeration boxes were found to be faulty, and owing to repairs and improvements being made upon them the second exhibit did not occur until August. The other three exhibits followed in the months of September and October. The number of exhibits in the first display was not satisfactory owing to the lack of satisfactory and assuring information as to the condition of the refrigeration plant and the boxes prepared for the preservation of the goods. As soon as the improvements and repairs were perfected and the refrigeration plant ran twenty-two hours out of the twenty-four there as no difficulty in maintaining the temperature not to exceed thirty-five degrees, and in fact, the temperature of zero might have been maintained, had it been desired. Early in July 1898, Hon. S. C. Bassett of Gibbon, Nebraska was selected as Assistant Superintendent of the Dairy Exhibits to assist the superintendent in the care of the work incident to that branch of exhibits. He proved to be a very efficient, painstaking and reliable assistant and I desire at this time to return thanks to him for his unceasing care of all the minutia of the work. The refrigeration plant used was manufactured by the A. H. Barbour Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, Ill. The motive power was electricity and the plant proved to be entirely satisfactory to the authorities under modified conditions which actual use proved to be necessary. "Hon. J. B. Dinsmore: Superintendent of Live Stock, Dairy, Etc. Exhibits Dear Sir: As Assistant Superintendent of the competitive dairy exhibit of the Trans Mississippi Exposition, I took charge of said department the last week in August, at which time the butter for the second contest had arrived and was ready to be judged. The refrigerators in the Dairy Building were at that time in a satisfactory condition and so continued until the close of the Exposition. The judging of all butter exhibits was by Mr. W. D. Collyer of Marshalltown, Iowa, whom I believe to be thoroughly competent and whose work as expert judge gave as good satisfaction as could be expected where competition is close and sharp. Upon entering upon by duties I found that the rules governing dairy exhibits were somewhat conflicting and capable of more than one interpretation and, with the approval of yourself and the proper Exposition officials the same were changed to provide that any exhibitor in the department whose exhibit scored more than 95 points should be entitled to diploma and bronze medal. Where his exhibit scored 97 or more points he should be entitled to diploma for silver medal and to the exhibitor making highest score (Providing same be above 97) should be awarded diploma for Gold Medal. Five competition butter exhibits were held, one in the month of July, one in August, one in September and two in October. A summary of Exhibitors and exhibits is as follows: Total number of exhibitors,.................... 205 Total number of packages,...................... 489 Total score of all exhibits,................... 45,604 Average score of all exhibits,................. 93.25 Highest score,................................. 98 The following is the summary by states. MINNESOTA. No. exhibitors,.................... 74 No. packages,...................... 175 Average score,..................... 93.89 KANSAS. No. exhibitors,.................... 47 No. Packages,...................... 137 Average score,..................... 91.31 IOWA. No. exhibitors,.................... 37 No. Packages,...................... 89 Average score,..................... 91.30 NEBRASKA No. exhibitors,.................... 29 No. Packages,...................... 52 Average score,..................... 93.58 WISCONSIN No. Exhibitors,.................... 8 No. Packages,...................... 15 Average score,..................... 95.18 ILLINOIS No. exhibitors,.................... 4 No. packages,...................... 11 Average score,..................... 93.18 SOUTH DAKOTA No. exhibitors,.................... 3 No. packages,...................... 6 Average score,..................... 94.70 MISSOURI No. Exhibitors,................... 1 No. Packages,..................... 2 Average score,.................... 92 INDIANA No. Exhibitors,................... 1 No. Packages,..................... 1 Average score,.................... 86 MASSACHUSETTS No. Exhibits,..................... 1 No. Packages,..................... 2 Average score,.................... 93.08 In justice to many exhibitors it should be said that, with the exception of exhibits from Minnesota, which were transported in refrigerator cars and transferred at once on arrival to the refrigerators in the Dairy Building, exhibits from all other states came either by express or freight and were thus exposed to conditions not deemed the most favorable for butter intended for competition. Mention should be made of the highly instructive and meritorious permanent exhibit made by Supt. B. R. Stoufer of the Nebraska State Commission. This exhibit represented the work in a Nebraska creamery, showing butter in all its various stages, from that in the churn to a large assortment of packages of all kinds ready for the market. Minnesota also had a small but meritorious permanent exhibit during the last months of the Exposition. One of the most interesting exhibits in the Dairy Building and one that attracted universal attention was that of the noted artist, Mrs. Caroline Shawk Brooks, who busts, modeled in butter, of Admiral Dewey, Abraham Lincoln, President McKinley and others were the admiration of the thousands who beheld them. C H E E S E. The exhibit of cheese made in the month of October was small and disappointing, there being fifteen exhibitors and thirty-two packages. None of the cheese scored sufficiently high to receive a diploma of the second class. A W A R D S. The list of awards will be found in the general awards in report of Awards Bureau. Below please find the report of T. H. Lyon of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, reporting the results of tests of Milch Cows. Hon. J. B. Dinsmore, Live Stock Commissioner, Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition Omaha, Nebraska. My Dear Sir: I have the honor to report herewith the result of the "Test of Milch Cows" conducted under my supervision at the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition. The following is a copy of the rules governing the test, as published by the Department of Exhibits, Bureau of Live Stock, Dairy, Poultry and Pet Animals. RULE I. The test shall be made for ten days and shall be open to all cows. Heifers with first calf shall be in a class by themselves. RULE II. All cows entered for competition shall be under control of the committee in charge during the test and for two days prior thereto. They shall be fed and milked under the direction of the committee, the owner of the cow being allowed to name the person who cares for and milks the cow. They may receive at the direction of the owner any amount or proportion of the following foods viz: corn and oats, ground wheat bran, linseed meal, corn silage, clover hay, timothy hay and prairie hay. All feed used shall be weighed and samples analyzed, and each cow shall be charged with the dry matter therein. But the same feeds and the same proportion of each shall be continued throughout the test in each case. When the ration is adopted, only the amount fed can be carried. Each cow shall be charged with the total amount of food given, no allowance being made for food not consumed. RULE III. As a basis for comparison, one point shall be allowed for each pound of solids not fat, and ten points for each pound of fat contained in the milk. The points obtained in this way shall be increased by one per cent for each week of lactation after the first month. In no case, however, shall more than twenty-five per cent increase be allowed for advancing lactation. The number of points obtained in this way, divided by the number of pounds of dry matter in the food consumed during the test will give a factor which represents the relative food economy of the cows being tested. This factor multiplied by an arbitrary number (five is recommended) shall be added for each day of the test and the sum shall constitute the score. The cow having the largest score, obtained in this way, shall be considered the best. 997. Premium for Cows. Dip. for Dip. for Dip. for High Com. Com. Gold Med. Sil. Med. Bronz Med. " " " 998. Premium for Heifers. Dip. for Dip. for Dip. for High Com. Com. Gold Med. Sil. Med. Bronz Med. " " " In case of tie between cows or between heifers, each shall be entitled to the same premium. These rules were followed strictly in accordance with your interpretation with the exception of the provision under Rule I which specifies that the test shall be for ten days. At the unanimous request of those entering animals for the test, and upon your approval of the same, it was decided to curtail the time to seven days. The following is a list of the entries. 997. PREMIUM FOR COWS. Henry Stevens & Sons, Lacona, N.Y. 1.- Aggie Grace Second's Pertertje. H-F.R No.26731 Calved, Feb. 1st, 1891 Fresh July 14, 1898. 2.- Helen Burke. H.-F.R. No.22916 Calved Dec. 23rd, 1889. Fresh July 20th, 1898 John C. Doubt, University Place, Nebraska. 7.- Sharon Dora. H.-F.R. No. 35,210 Calved Feb. 6th, 1893. Fresh Sept. 13th, 1898. 998. PREMIUM FOR HEIFERS. Henry Stevens & Sons, Lacona, N.Y. 3.- Duchess of Ormsby 3rd. H.-F.R. No. 40,962. Calved Sept. 276, 1895. Fresh July 25, 1898. 4.- DeKol Manor Beets. H.-F.R. No. 41,216. Calved March 10th, 1896. Fresh Apr. 25, 1898. J. W. Chappell, Normal, Nebraska. 5.- Austral Third's Parthena. H.-F.R. No. 46,240 Calved Nov. 27, 1896. Fresh July 17, 1898. 6.- Artis Tgritonia Netherland. H.-F.R. No. 22,116 Calved April 17, 1896. Fresh Sept. 20, 1898. The animals entered in the test were placed in a barn by themselves on October 10, and were under the supervision of the judge from that time. The cattle were comfortable throughout the entire test, except one night when melted snow leaked through the roof. There was no complaint on the part of the competitors with the arrangements for housing the stock. The barn was kept locked throughout the entire time of the test so that the animals were not disturbed by visitors. A guard was also stationed outside to prevent anyone from entering. The feed was weighed at the time of feeding. Each competitor was allowed to select his own time for feeding and milking. They all fed three times a day and, with one exception, milked three times a day. At six o'clock on the evening of October 11th the animals were all milked in the presence of the judge, after which the milk from each animal was weighed at each milking up to and including the milking on the evening of October 18. A sample of about one quart was taken from the milk of each animal, this was taken to the labratory where the per cent of butter fat and solid matters it contained was determined. The labratory was kept locked and no one but those conducting the test admitted. Samples were taken of all of the foods used by the competitors and sent to the University of Nebraska for a determination of dry matter. In this way all of the data was collected that was necessary to a calculation of the relative merits of the animals entered in accordance with the rules of the test. The following is a statement of the record of each animal entered under 997. ENTRY NO. 1. Aggie Grace Second's Peretje Owned by Henry Stevens & Son, Lacona, N.Y. Dry matter consumed in the food during the test,...154.48 lbs. Statement of Yield Butter fat produced during test,.............. 13.21 lbs. Solids not fat,............................... 33.88 " Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 8.00% Calculation of score from above as provided in rules, gives, 41.614 ENTRY NO. 2 Helena Burke, Owned by Henry Stevens & Son. Dry matter consumed in the food during the test,...153.93 lbs. Statement of Yield, Butter fat produced during test,.............. 13.47 # Solids not fat,............................... 38.99 # Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 7.00% Calculation of score from above data, as provided rules gives 42.245 ENTRY NO. 7 Sharon Dora, owned by John C. Doubt. Dry matter consumed in feed during test,...........301.67 # Statement of Yield. Butter fat produced during test,.............. 9.15 lbs. Solids not fat,............................... 25.84 " Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 0% Calculation of score from above data, as provided rules gives 13.5135 The following are the records for the animals entered under 998. ENTRY NO. 3 Duchess of Ormsby 3rd owned by Henry Stevens & Sons Dry matter consumed in feed during the test,.......122.98 # Statement of Yields, Butter fat produced during test,.............. 11.01 lbs. Solids not fat,............................... 28.83 " Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 6.5% Calculation of score from above data, as provided rules gives 42.1085 ENTRY NO. 4 DeKol Manor Beets, owned by Henry Stevens & Sons Dry matter consumed in feed during the test,.......109.73 # Statement of Yields, Butter fat produced during test,.............. 5.59 Solids not fat,............................... 16.13 Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 20.00% Calculation of score from above data, as provided rules gives 27.5695 ENTRY NO. 5 Austral 3rd'd Parthenea, owned by I. W. Chappell Dry matter consumed in feed during the test,....... 99.60 # Statement of Yield, Butter fat produced during test,.............. 6.95 lbs. Solids not fat,............................... 17.77 lbs. Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 8.00% Calculation of score from above data, as provided rules gives 33.1170 ENTRY NO. 6 Artis Tritormia Netherland owned by I. W. Chappell Dry matter consumed in feed during the test,.......104.27 # Statement of Yield, Butter fat produced during test,.............. 8.50 lbs. Solids not fat,............................... 24.37 lbs. Increase for stage of lactation,.............. 0.00% Calculation of score from above data, as provided rules gives 38.7115 In accordance with the rules governing the test I therefore place the animals entered in the following order, based upon the value of the score, and this shall be the order of award. 997. PREMIUM FOR COWS. 1st. Helena Burke. H.F.R. 26731. Owned by Henry Stevens & Son, Lacona, N.Y. 2nd. Aggie Grace Second's Pertertje, H.F.R. 22916. Owned by Henry Stevens & Son, Lacona, N.Y. 3rd. Sharon Dora. H.F.R. 35210 Owned by John C. Doubt, University Place, Neb. 998. PREMIUM FOR HEIFERS. 1st. Duchess of Ormsby 3rd, H.F.R. 40,962 Owned by Henry Stevens & Son, Lacona, N.Y. 2nd. Artis Tritomnia, Netherland, H.F.R. 22116. Owned by I. W. Chappell, Normal, Nebraska 3rd. Austral Third's Partena, H.F.R. 46240 Owned by I. W. Chappell, Normal, Nebraska. 4th. DeKol Manor Beets, H.F.R. 41216. Owned by Henry Stevens & Son, Lacona, N.Y. The above is to the best of my knowledge an accurate test of the animals competing, in accordance with the rules governing the test. Very respectfully, T. P. Lyon, The University of Nebraska. November 14, 1898. Thanking you for courtesies and consideration shown to me in my work, Very respectfully, S. A. Bassett, Asst. Supt.