1890.J PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 141 



not, for various causes, always be relied upon. Where the 

 more important of these are wanting, we may safely conclude 

 that the animal is worthless for dairy purposes, and dispose 

 of her while young. 



External Indications of Good Dairy Stock. 

 Some of the external indications of a good butter-produc- 

 ing cow, are : — 



1. A large, evenly balanced udder, extending well for- 

 ward and backward. 



2. Medium-sized teats, not set too closely together, yield- 

 ing their milk easily, and in large, smooth streams. 



3. A broad posterior, with body tapering towards the 

 head, giving ample room for a l)road escutcheon, and devel- 

 opment of udder, with loose folds of skin in rear of udder, 

 in heifers and cows not in full liow of milk. 



4. A good development of the digestive organs. 



5. A large, crooked, well-developed milk vein. 



6. A thin, pliable, yellow skin, with its accompaniment 

 of a fine, soft coat. 



7. A nervous but docile temperament, gentle when well 

 treated, but intelligent enough to resist abuse. 



8. Small, delicately formed head and horns, with none of 

 that coarse, ox-like appearance, peculiar to ill-bred stock. 



Correct Ideals of Perfection. 

 These are all indications of good butter-producing cows, 

 yet, when judged by the beef producers' standard, such 

 animals may be regarded as homely in the extreme. The 

 butter maker must form his ideals of perfection by those 

 traits which he learns, from experience, point to the best 

 pecuniary returns from his dairy, and not from a beef stand- 

 ard. He will often find it necessary to dispose of his favorite 

 cows, when judged by this standard. Of those which give 

 the largest fiow of milk, and will command the highest prices 

 when wanted for family use or for the production of milk for 

 the milk trade, hence they pay him well for the raising. 

 Absolute, arbitrary tests, without favoritism, must determine 

 his action, if he would quickly bring his herd up to a produc- 

 tive capacity of three hundred pounds or more per annum. 



