MICHIGAN STATE GRANGE. 349 



females of the same breed as the sire to be used should also be procured. 

 These will add additional interest to the methods of breeding and the 

 care exercised, and it is surprising in what a short time the progeny 

 of one or two females will develop into a good full-blood herd. 



When once the cows are purchased and the bull selected, then let 

 there may be no swerving of purpose or deviation of plan. The same line 

 of blood must be used continuously. The intermixtures of blood are the 

 causes of so many inferior types and no purpose animals. 



It is, therefore, necessary that the best possible type of bull be 

 secured. To obtain these, moderately large prices will have to be paid. 

 In making the proper selection, one must be possessed of correct ideas 

 of breed and bull type. In choosing a dairy sire, I would want to know 

 first about his ancestry. He should have a good mother with a strong 

 line of ancestry. Concentration of good blood and individual excellence, 

 is the surest means of its perpetuation. It is a much more difficult task 

 to choose among bulls than fully developed cows. The individuals com- 

 prising the female ancestry of the bull should be possessed of fair size 

 and vigorous constitutions, but chiefly large producers of milk of good 

 quality. A dairy bull should comply with the following requirements, 

 viz.: 



1. Head must be strong and masculine and full of character and 

 vigor, broad between the eyes, clean cut and well defined, the eye full 

 and prominent. 



2. Neck neatly joined at head and shoulders, only medium in length 

 and somewhat arched and large in the muscles, indicating strength and 

 vigor. 



3. The forequarters should be strongly developed with good depth 

 and width of thorax or chest, showing great strength of constitution. 



4. The coupling should be relatively shorter and more compact than 

 that of females, with straight, strong, prominent back and wide loin. 

 Ribs deep and widely sprung, showing large digestive capacity. 



5. Hind quarters long and broad on rumps with the width carried 

 well back, hip bones wide apart, tail set on level with the back, hanging 

 at right angles to it and tapering toward the end, falling an inch or two 

 below the hocks. 



Rudimentaty teats should be well developed and set well apart and 

 the milk veins should be easily traceable. 



6. Handling qualities. Skin, though thicker and heavier than that 

 of the cow, should be loose, soft, pliable, mellow and elastic with a 

 good covering of hair of a soft silky nature. 



General Appearance: Should be that of strength and vigor with 

 activity devoid of viciousness. 



These few suggestions relating to bull type, must needs be general 

 rather than specific, owing to the great variation in breed type. 



SELECTION OF COWS. 



There is great diversity of opinion regarding dairy type and form 

 among cows. We are constantly discovering variations in the perform- 

 ance of individuals of similar types. But even though this may be the 

 case, it is necessary for the breeder to follow some standard in breeding 

 and selection. In breeding pedigreed animals, the standards established 



