146 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



13. Skin. Medium to fine, finer than in the beef 

 breeds, easily movable, and covered plentifully with fine, 

 soft hair. 



14. General appearance. The carriage should be 

 active, the prominences at the angles and also the ribs dis- 

 tinctly apparent, and there should be evidences of a ten- 

 dency to spareness in form when in milk. 



Given in summary the more important indications 

 in a good dairy cow and important perhaps in the order 

 given are the following: 



( I ) Much length and depth in the barrel or coupling, 

 indicating a large consumption and utilization of food; (2) 

 refinement of form, as evidenced more particularly in the 

 head, neck, withers, thighs and limbs; (3) good develop- 

 ment of udder and milk veins; (4) constitution, as in- 

 dicated by a capacious chest, much width through the 

 heart, a broad loin, a full, clear eye, and an active carriage ; 

 (5) downward and yet outward sprung and open spaced 

 ribs, covered with a soft, pliable and elastic skin. Details 

 relating to nerve power, or temperament, constitution and 

 vitality, also quantity and quality in milk are given in the 

 "Study of the Breeds," page 16. (See also XVIII.) 



The males differ from the females in the following es- 

 sentials, as outlined in Extension Bulletin No. 9 of the 

 Michigan Agricultural college : 



1. The general outline should be stronger, including 

 more bone and should possess marked indications of mas- 

 culinity, as shown in head, neck and fore quarters. 



2. The head should be strong and full of character 

 and vigor, as expressed in its poise, clean cut outline, width 

 at forehead and full active eye. 



3. The neck should have less of length, more of 

 muscling,, and should be somewhat arched. 



4. The fore quarters should be more strongly devel- 

 oped and should have good width and depth of breast and 

 chest as a strong guaranty of good constitution. 



