BREEDS OF CATTLE 135 



is the very antithesis of the true Shorthorn type. The Short- 

 horn that belongs to a deep-milking family is not expected to 

 be as thick-fleshed as those belonging to the other branch of 

 the breed ; she is apt to be somewhat too fine and may in fact, 

 if care is not ctoscreetly employed to avoid it, become as bony 

 as one of the breeds famous for butter-making purposes without 

 giving anything like the same amount of cream in her milk as 

 such animals do. Further, if care is not taken in mating these 

 "skeleton milkers" one may breed cows having the bone and 

 thin flesh of one grandparent combined with the absence of 

 milk-yielding power belonging to another ancestor. 



The udder in this breed, for many of its number are known 

 to be failures at the pail, is of particular importance. It should 

 be carried well up and back between the hind legs, and should 

 be large in size but not too pendulous. I have not found, 

 personally, that a "globe-shaped" bag, equidistant teats, and 

 other fancy show-points are special indications of high milk- 

 yield. I have seen so many splendid milkers with bags absolutely 

 wanting in a number of the attributes demanded by the show- 

 ring that I am inclined to Relieve that systematic investigation 

 would prove that these attributes have no great intrinsic value. 

 Ample size and great quality of touch are the vital matters. 

 The importance of touch cannot be over-estimated. The skin 

 of the udder should be moderately thick only, there should be 

 plenty of it, and it should* be elastic. If a fold of the skin be 

 taken between the finger and thumb, the two halves of the 

 plait should glide over one another in a manner pleasing to the 

 hand, the hair should be silky, or at any rate not thick and 

 harsh, and one likes to see a net- work of small veins under the 

 hair when the udder is distended. The gland under the skin 

 should touch firm, but elastic, having no sort of tendency to 

 feel doughy or soft and fat. What is known as a " fleshy " bag 

 is often large, but yields little milk. 



Besides the udder itself the veins which run along the lower 

 parts of the abdomen should be specially noticed; these vessels, 

 when the cow is in profit, should be large enough to stand out 

 and be easily seen; they should handle firm, they cannot, it is 

 said, be too contorted, and the holes through which they 



