252 LABORATORY MANUAL OF AGRICULTURE 



beefy neck does not denote high milk production. The 

 neck should be joined smoothly to the shoulders, which 

 should be sloping. It should be smooth and have a light 

 brisket. The withers should be narrow and sharp, not 

 broad and flat, as this indicates beefiness. The forelegs 

 should be straight, clean, set well under the body, and well 

 apart. Legs set too close together indicate lack of room 

 for the development of lungs and heart, and therefore a poor 

 constitution. 



Body 25 Per Cent. The chest of the dairy cow should 

 be deep and roomy, and have a broad floor, as these charac- 

 teristics all indicate more room for the heart and lungs, and 

 consequently a strong constitution. The back should be 

 straight and strong. A weak, sunken back is a common de- 

 fect in dairy cows. It indicates insufficient strength to carry 

 a heavy barrel. The vertebra or spinal processes along the 

 spinal column should be prominent and open. The lateral 

 nerves pass out between the vertebra, and plenty of room 

 for these nerves is desirable. The barrel of the dairy cow is 

 her storehouse for food. The dairy animal, to be profitable, 

 must consume a large quantity of food and she must have a 

 large barrel in which to store it. The ribs should be well 

 sprung and wide apart, thus making a large barrel possible. 

 The loin should be broad and strong, especially broad to 

 avoid trouble at time of parturition. 



Hindquarters 12 Per Cent. The hips of the dairy cow 

 should be prominent and wide apart, as this indicates both 

 capacity in the barrel and room in the pelvic region. The 

 rump should be long, and high at the tail head. A long 

 rump is associated with plenty of room for udder attachment. 



