No. L] THE DAIRY HEED. 381 



desirable, but this does not always assure large milking 

 powers, or a lack of it the reverse. The placement of the 

 teats is indicative of milk yield, but not infallible. Even 

 symmetry of the quarters may not be a guarantee of good 

 milking powers, although a tipped-up udder mars the beauty 

 of a cow. Avoid an udder that begins too low down in the 

 twist and extends only moderately well forward, even if it 

 is large and pendulous. Size and shape of teats are matters 

 of convenience in milking. It must be borne in mind, 

 however, that anything that saves labor is a great advantage 

 on the farm, as well as elsewhere ; and a hard, slow-milking 

 cow, requiring five or ten minutes more than the average 

 time for milking daily, means an extra expenditure of from 

 $4 to $8 per year for attendance. She ought to be dis- 

 counted from $10 to $15 in price on this account. 



2. Size of Barrel. — A long, deep, capacious body is one 

 of the essentials of milking power often lost sight of, yet 

 nevertheless of prime importance. Often we hear that the 

 cow is " a hard-worked animal," and it is true that a large 

 expenditure of energy is involved in the conversion of the 

 coarse forage on which she subsists into milk. This elabo- 

 ration is most economically carried on in a large and per- 

 fectly organized laboratory. A wasp-waisted cow rarely 

 proves particularly profitable in the dairy. Much more 

 stress ought to be laid on the length and depth of the barrel 

 than is now the case, whether one is selecting breeding- 

 stock or merely purchasing milkers for present needs. 



3. Hind Quarters. — That milk production is closely asso- 

 ciated with the maternal function is not to be disputed. 

 The conformation generally conceded to be most desir- 

 able for breeding is, therefore, to be also sought in a 

 dairy cow. Wide, rather prominent hips and a roomy 

 pelvis are considered important. The rump should be long 

 and level, and, notwithstanding the fact that many good 

 cows have had sloping and peaked rumps, such a conforma- 

 tion mars the beauty of a cow, reduces her value in the 

 market and adds nothing to her dairy capacity. Good 

 depth of quarters is also desirable, and at least moderate 

 straightness on their back and sides. Extremely cat-hammed 



