A TYPICAL DAIRY COW 167 



the body increase in depth and massiveness from the 

 fore to the hind quarters. 



Leg bones should be rather fine, and the tail not 

 too thick. 



Skin. This is a most important point, as good 

 milkers generally have a rather thin, soft, flexible 

 skin with an oily feel. The hair should be soft and 

 velvety. Hidebound cows with coats of coarse hair 

 are not generally good milkers. 



Udder. This varies with the different breeds in 

 shape, but should in all cases be symmetrical, with teats 

 of equal size, big enough to grasp with the hand, but not 

 too large, and placed well apart. The udder should 

 generally extend well forward and well backward, 

 giving great capacity. The skin of the udder should 

 be very elastic, and shrink considerably after milking 

 each time. 



General indications regarding Quantity and Quality of 

 Milk. Cow wedged-shaped, fine along the shoulders 

 and back, slender neck, thin tail ; milk-veins large, 

 prominent, branched, and big at the point where they 

 turn into the body (milk-wells). Udder capacious, 

 soft and elastic. Escutcheon or milk mirror, which is 

 formed by hairs on back of udder, pointing upwards 

 instead of downwards, is regarded by some as a 

 reliable guide. This peculiar marking often con- 

 tinues upward in a broad band. At the same 

 time the back part of udder may have tufts of 

 hairs or " ovals " on it, and these are considered 

 a good sign, especially if the blood-vessels are 

 prominent on back of udder and considerably 

 branched. 



Quality is indicated by a thin, flexible, mellow skin ; 

 soft velvety hair ; skin inside ears yellowish ; in fact 



