Bulletin No. 42 - Creaming Experiments

During the summer of 1894, before our hand separator was fitted with power attachment, the writer found it scarcely practicable to run the separator, so that most of the milk was skimmed by deep setting. Although the usual methods of procedure were practiced, it was found impossible to get results that were satisfactory, or that would approximately compare with those reported from many eastern stations. Because of this and because \u27 the larger proportion of our dairymen use some method of setting, it was decided to undertake a series of experiments that might throw some light upon the subject. As we had four styles of deep-setting pails, it was thought wise to make some comparison between them, and at the same time to compare deep setting with shallow setting, and with \u27the cream separator, as to efficiency or thoroughness of work. To guard against the effect of season, as well as the effect of advanced lactation in the cows, the mixed milk of the herd was was used, and the tests were continued throughout the year. For a few months during the fall and winter, our milk was small in quantity, and, as the college class in dairying was also depending on the station herd for a supply of milk for practical work, it was not possible to continue the test of all the pails during these months. This vitiates the comparison somewhat, but by comparing the pails for the separate months, their relative value for skimming milk may be determined. The tests were not continued throughout the month, but were conducted for the last week in each month. No systematic attempt was made to compare the separator with the setting methods, but the results given are the average of several tests each month, when the students or the writer ran the separator. The work of setting the milk and making the test of skim milk was all done by the writer, except in a few instances in the fall and winter, when it was done by a post graduate student, Miss Hoyt. The tests of the skim milk were all made with the Babcock tester