THE DAIRY. 181 



established and made so clear and simple as to come within the ready comprehension of every 

 one, it would prove of immense and incalculable value. 



After determining the age of a cow, the constitution and health of the animal should 

 next be considered. A good constitution is usually accompanied with good lungs, a chest 

 that is broad, ribs broad and well spread, slow and regular respiration, and a good appetite. 

 When such a cow is in milk she will require considerable water, as a large secretion of milk 

 usually induces a strong inclination to drink; the digestive organs will be active and energetic, 

 and an abundance of good, healthy blood will be manufactured, which will result in the milk 

 glands being stimulated to large secretion. When not giving milk, such cows will fatten 

 readily. 



Cows with small and weak lungs, poor appetite, close ribs, and active milk glands, will 

 generally possess a feeble constitution ; and if they give a plentiful supply of milk, it will 

 generally be of bad quality. Such cows are apt to have diseased lungs. They will never 

 fatten readily when dry, however well they may be fed. As a general rule, dairymen regard 

 the large breeds and heavy milkers, such as the Holsteins, best adapted to the manufacture 

 of cheese, such milk containing the largest proportionate amount of casein, or cheese 

 element, while the smaller breeds, giving a less quantity of milk but of richer quality, or 

 more of the butter element, such as the Jersey and Guernsey, are best suited to the production 

 of butter. 



Some of the external marks of a good milker are given as follows, by the editor of this 

 work in his &quot; Milch Cows.&quot; In order to have no superfluous flesh, the cow should have a 

 small, clear, and rather long head, tapering towards the muzzle. A cow with a large, coarse 

 head will seldom fatten readily, or give a large quantity of milk. A coarse head increases 

 the proportion of weight of the least valuable parts, while it is a sure indication that the 

 whole bony structure is too heavy. The mouth should be large and broad; the eye bright 

 and sparkling, but of a peculiar placidness of expression, with no indication of wildness, 

 but rather a mild and feminine look. These points will indicate gentleness of disposition. 

 Such cows seem to like to be milked, are fond of being caressed, and often return caresses. 



The horns should be small, short, tapering, yellowish, and glistening. The neck should 

 be small, thin, and tapering towards the head, but thickening when it approaches the 

 shoulder; the dewlaps small. The fore-quarters should be rather small when compared with 

 the hind-quarters. The form of the barrel should be large, and each rib should project 

 farther than the preceding one up to the loins. She should be well formed across the hips 

 and in the rump. The spine or back-bone should be straight and long, rather loosely hung, 

 or open along the middle part, the result of the distance between the dorsal vertebrae, which 

 sometimes causes a slight depression or sway back. By some good judges this mark is 

 regarded as of great importance, especially when the bones of the hind-quarters are also 

 rather loosely put together, leaving the rump of great width, and the pelvis large, and the 

 organs and milk-vessels lodged in the cavities largely developed. 



The skin over the rump should be large and flexible. This point is of great importance; 

 and as, when the cow is in low condition, or very thin in flesh, it will appear somewhat 

 harder and closer than it otherwise would, some practice and close observation are required 

 to judge well of this mark. The skin all over the body should be soft and mellow to the 

 touch, with soft, glossy hair. The tail, if thick at the setting on, should taper, and be fine 

 below. But the udder is of special importance. It should be large in proportion to the size 

 of the animal, and the skin thin, with soft, loose folds extending well back, capable of great 

 distension when filled, but shrinking to a small compass when entirely empty. It must be 

 free from lumps in every part, and of medium size. 



Nor are the milk- veins less important to be carefully observed. The principal ones 

 under the belly should be large and prominent, and extend well forward to the navel, losing 



