274 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



that function, but also the ability to endure long and well 

 the strain of such function, and keep in good health. 

 Constitution is best indicated by a full development at 

 the navel, and strong abdominal walls, showing that the 

 animal, when in a prenatal state, was abundantly nourished 

 by the mother through a well-developed umbilical cord. 



Prepotency. "In the scale for bulls, for the first time, 

 we believe, in the history of dairy breeds, this point is 

 introduced. The reason we have included it is that ' pre- 

 potency ' is the chief consideration in the selection of a 

 male breeding animal. The pedigree and conformation 

 is often all that can be desired, but because the bull is 

 lacking in prepotent breeding power he is an expensive 

 failure. This quality is, in a sense, difficult to perceive 

 or describe, but we know certain animals have it in high 

 degree and others fail of it completely. It is fairly well 

 indicated by vigor of appearance, strong resolute bearing 

 and abundant nervous energy. We would distinguish 

 this from an ugly disposition. A bull is ugly by the way 

 he is handled rather than by his breeding. What we want 

 is strong impressive blood. A dull sluggish spirit and 

 action, we consider indicative of a lack of true dairy pre- 

 potency, but we would prefer to breed to a rather sluggish- 

 appearing bull with first-class rudimentaries than to a 

 stylish one with badly placed rudimentaries. 



Rudimentary teats. " We consider that a well-balanced 

 and well-shaped udder in the cow is largely due to the 

 way the rudimentary teats are placed on the sire. If they 

 are crowded close together the result is likely to be narrow, 

 pointed udders. If they are placed well apart, of good 

 size and well forward of the scrotum, the effect, we think, 

 will be to influence largely the production of well-shaped 

 udders in the resulting heifers, and counteract the tendency 



