354 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



best dairy type. Fig. 3 illustrates an animal lacking greatly in capac- 

 ity and deficient in dairy form. This cow was not a profitable pro- 

 ducer. 



THE HEAD. 



The head should be lean, moderately long, with face slightly 

 dished and a generally contented expression of the features. The 

 muzzle should be large, the mouth large, the nostrils wide and open. 

 A clear, full, bright eye is indicative of good health and gopd nervous 

 power. A broad, full and high forehead is undoubtedly an important 

 characteristic and is important because it indicates a large brain, 

 which, as the center of the nervous system, determines in no small 

 degree the efficiency of the milking functions. Numerous observa- 

 tions have led us to believe that the milking function is very closely 

 related to the nervous system of the animal and anything that dis- 

 turbs the nerve activities of the animal disturbs the function of milk 

 giving. It is therefore highly important that the nerve power of the 

 animal should be fully developed. The ears are best when of medium 

 size, fine texture, covered with fine hair and of an orange yellow color 

 inside. The orange yellow color is usually associated with healthy 

 oily secretions observed on other parts of the skin and are said by 

 some to indicate the ability of the animal to produce rich milk. 

 Whether that may be true or not it is certain that breeds like the 

 Jersey and Guernsey that habitually produce rich milk have this 

 yellow color developed to a higher degree than other breeds that do 

 not give as rich milk. The neck, unlike the beef animal, should be 

 thin, moderately long, with little or no dew lap and the throat clean. 

 Wide spaces between the jaws is a good indication. 



THE FOREQUARTERS. 



The withers should be lean and sharp and the shoulders lean 

 and oblique, the chest deep and wide. A wide, deep chest is un- 

 doubtedly evidence of vigor and constitution. In the selection of the 

 wedge shape, the writer believes that this characteristic has been al- 

 together too much neglected and its importance underestimated. It 

 must always be remembered that constitutional vigor is important 

 in any of our domestic animals and particularly so in our dairy cows 

 that produce large quantities of milk and butter. The forelegs should 

 be straight, short and fine boned. 



