EXERCISE 63 

 JUDGING DAIRY CATTLE 



Object. To study the dairy cow and observe those 

 factors that affect her quality and worth. 



Explanation. A dairy cow is used primarily for the pro- 

 duction of milk and butter fat. The most profitable dairy 

 cow is the one that produces the maximum amount of milk 

 and butter fat for a given amount of feed. Two methods 

 are used in selecting profitable dairy cows. One method of 

 selection is to consider the record of the animal and from 

 this record to determine her ability to produce milk and 

 butter fat. The other method of selection is to consider 

 the form or conformation of the animal. The first method 

 is the better because the actual record of the animal is con- 

 sidered. This method cannot always be employed because 

 the record of the dairy cow is not always available. When 

 the record of the cow is not available, the only means of de- 

 termining her value is by studying her form and conforma- 

 tion. High milk production is usually associated with a 

 definite form or conformation. The dairy cow is thin and 

 muscular and in this respect differs from the beef animal. 

 This condition is due not to her inability to utilize food 

 economically, but to her tendency to convert the food con- 

 sumed into milk rather than into body fat. 



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