76 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



That the relation between dairy form and function is of 

 the most close and intimate character cannot be gainsaid. In 

 judging, therefore, of dairy function, dairy form cannot be 

 ignored. But it is possible to carry the idea of dairy form 

 to an extreme. It is so used, (1) when it is taken as an exact 

 measure of dairy function, and (2) when it is sought to the 

 extent of inducing delicacy in the animals which possess it. 



"When it is said that dairy form as usually recognized is 

 not an exact measure of dairy function, the intent of the 

 statement is as follows: (1) that dairy form will not enable 

 the judge to determine which of two dairy cows is actually the 

 better producer; (2) that cows not of extreme dairy form 

 are in some instances superior as producers to those which 

 are, though of the same breed and in the same herd, having 

 also been bred on similar lines; and (3) because of such 

 facts, the conclusion is irresistible that other factors have an 

 important influence on function as well as form. Place two 

 cows before the best judge in the country, and ask him to tell 

 which cow is the larger producer. The cows have been bred 

 in the same way, and they are very similar in form. If the 

 judge is honest, he will say that he cannot tell. If asked 

 wherein consists the value of form as an indicator of func- 

 tion, the answer is that it is safe to follow form as a general 

 guide. 



The dairy form carries along with it large capacity of 

 barrel ; refinement of head, neck and limbs ; sharpness and 

 prominence at the fore spinal column; and leanness and 

 spareness generally. Xow, all these can be sought in a 

 marked degree without harm to the constitution, if one point 

 is guarded, — that point relates to width of chest. The width 

 of chest may be pretty well determined by observing the dis- 

 tance between the forelegs. When these have little space be- 

 tween them, and more especially in the males, they are 

 coming toward the danger point in narrowness of chest. The 

 stamina of the animal must be guarded, or soon dairy func- 

 tion will suffer. 



That the stamina of dairy cows has been lowered in many 

 instances cannot be denied. That such lowering of stamina 

 has extended to whole herds in some instances is painfully 



