VAN PELT'S COW DEMONSTRATION 



the touch and equally as large and well formed after milk- 

 ing as before. Udders of this character always point to a 

 worthless beast. 



As an indication of ability to yield largely and econom- 

 ically the presence of quality and texture is all important. 

 Desirable as are all the qualities, size, shape, texture and 

 quality, if any of them must for any reason be sacrificed in 

 the selection of a cow, the two latter should be retained at 

 the expense of the former. 



Quality of Udder 



Texture is indicated by the handling qualities of the 

 udder and the hide and hair covering it and by the com- 

 parative appearance of the udder before and after milking. 

 The udder pliable and soft, yet firm to the touch, covered 

 with hide that is soft, unctuous and elastic, covered with 

 short, fine silky hair is usually of proper quality. Then, if, 

 large in the beginning, it collapses during the process of 

 milking, and the covering falls together in folds that are 

 plentiful, loose, soft and oily, all quarters of equal size and 

 shape, there is no indication of poor quality. 



Often cows are selected when they are dry, and then it 

 is difficult to determine definitely the size and shape that the 

 udder will assume when the animal freshens. The height of 

 attachment behind can be discovered but only approximately 

 how far it is carried forward. By the manner in which the 

 thighs are arched and curved the width of udder develop- 

 ment can be estimated, but the examination of the udder does 

 not truly indicate the length and form that will appear when 

 the cow freshens. 



As for the true length of udder, the best indication is 

 the length from the hip bone to the pin bone. When the 

 cow is fresh and her udder is full a plumb bob dropped down- 

 ward from the point of the hip bone falls immediately in front 

 of the udder. Another dropped from the pin bone falls im- 

 mediately behind the udder. Consequently, if the length from 

 the hip bone to the pin bone is great, the length of the udder 

 will be correspondingly great. 



Short and Drooping Rump Undesirable 



Cows short from the hip bone to the pin bone invariably 

 have short, pendent udders, and, likewise, those long in these 

 dimensions have udders that are attached high behind, ex- 

 tending far forward, which are conditions always to be de- 

 sired. 



Many cows, though long in the rump, droop from the 

 hip bones to the pin bones and are described by the expression 



[59] 



