EXERCISE XLVI. 



SCORING DAIRY COWS. 



Ellis Rail, Professor of Agriculture, State School of Agriculture, Curtis, Nebraska. 



Supplies for a Laboratory Section of Twelve. Three dozen score cards for dairy cows ; two or three cows 

 3f good dairy type. 



DIRECTIONS. First learn where the points mentioned in the score card for dairy cows 

 are located on the animal. Second, read the explanation and directions accompanying the 

 score card for dairy cows. As you read the explanation and directions it will be well to make 

 a casual study of a good dairy cow. Third, score such cows as are provided for this study. 



EXPLANATION AND DIRECTIONS ACCOMPANYING THE SCORE CARD FOR 



DAIRY COWS. 



Detailed Examination — Method of Procedure. 



As in the case of beef cattle, begin judging from a position in front of the cow. Observe 

 the muzzle for breadth and strength. Excellence in these points indicates good feeding 

 capacity. The jaw should be observed for strength of bone and muscling. Excellence here 

 indicates good powers of mastication. The nostrils should be large and open. Notice the face 

 for leanness of character and the display of facial veins; the eyes should be large, prominent, 

 alert, and mild. These things indicate dairy temperament. Next observe the forehead for 

 width and strength, but criticise too full a forehead as indicating coarseness. Examine the 

 ears. They should be of medium size, fine in textural quality and well fringed with rather 

 long, soft hair. 



Now, stepping to the side of the animal, but still well forward, critically examine her neck 

 and forequarters. The neck should be slender, neat, and thin, with little looseness of dewlap 

 at the base. Examine the withers with both the eye and the hand. The withers should be 

 narrow and sharply defined. Coarseness in this region is indicated by openness, roughness, or 

 a tendency to meatiness. The shoulders should be light and sloping, fitting neatly at the 

 top, but far enough apart below to give plenty of room for a broad, strong chest develop- 

 ment. The fore legs should be fine in bone and clean in appearance. They should stand 

 squarely under the corners of the body with distance enough between to give good chest room. 

 Meatiness or thickness in any portion of the neck, shoulders, or legs, is objectionable, as it 

 indicates a lack of true dairy type. Now, step back two or three steps and observe the body 

 itself. Notice the chest. It should be deep and have a broad floor. The heart girth should 

 be large. These things indicate roominess and capacity for the vital organs. From the same 

 position one can well observe the straightness of the back and the roominess and capacity 

 of the barrel. The back should be straight and strong, with ribs that are broad, far apart, 

 long, and wide spread. Ribs of this description give the capacious middle so necessary for 

 heavy production of milk. Passing the hand carefully along the spinal column, examine the 

 vertebrae. They should be bare and prominent. In fact, the whole region of the back, ribs 

 and loin should show spareness of fleshing. Finally from the side view notice the depth of 

 flank, the levelness of the rump, and the setting of the tail-head. The tail-head should be 

 level and not drooping. From the side view the rear of the thighs should be incurving, rather 

 than showing a tendency to bulge with flesh. 



Step now to the rear and view the animal from that quarter. The withers should be angu- 

 lar, the loin broad and strong, the hips wide apart and prominent. The tail should be neat and 

 free from coarseness at the base. It should taper gradually to a fine, well developed switch. 

 The rump should be level and well cleft between the hips and pin bones. The latter should 

 be level with the hip bones and far apart. As seen from the rear, the thighs should be thin, 

 incurving from the sides, and wide apart. The hind legs should be fine boned, straight, well 

 apart, and of good qualtiy. Closeness at the hocks is objectionable, as it limits udder space. 



16''. 



