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82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc 



animals are not so much prized as formerly. The milch 

 cow differs from her beef cousin in having an open twist, 

 with her udder filling the place where meat ought to be in 

 the latter. 



4. Light Fore End. — This is relative rather than abso- 

 lute, and may be overdone. The head is longer than in 

 the beef type ; the neck longer, and not so well filled in the 

 neck vein. The shoulders are not so wide, and are more 

 prominent at the withers. The crops are slacker, and the 

 anterior vertebra more prominent. The articulation of the 

 bones is looser, with longer spinus processes. The ribs are 

 not so well sprung, giving a fish-backed rather than a 

 hooped effect. The general conformation is lighter, longer 

 and less compact than in beef stock ; yet this lightness 

 must not be extreme, as anything that produces delicacy 

 and lack of constitutional vigor detracts from the usefulness 

 of the animal. There must be, therefore, no crowding of 

 the vital organs, but reasonably large lung capacity should 

 be sought, measured by good heart girth. 



5. Superficial Points. — According to age, large milk 

 veins are indicative of large milk secretion. Good size or 

 double extension of the vein is desirable. Length, secured 

 either by tortuous, convoluted shape, or by extending far 

 forward, as well as numerous prominent branches on belly 

 and udder, add to the value of the animal. The "milk 

 wells," or orifices through which the milk veins enter the 

 abdominal cavity, must be large and numerous. The real 

 significance of milk veins is found in their function in the 

 circulatory system of the udder. An udder well supplied 

 with blood vessels is more highly organized than one not so 

 well provided. Blood is the source of milk, and its abun- 

 dance in the udder is indicated by the extent of the circu- 

 latory system, of which the milk veins are the sensible 

 portion. 



The skin ought to be mellow and not too thick, its mel- 

 lowness, again, being an indication of a good circulatory 

 system so essential to milk secretion. 



The hair ought to be fine and close-lying, according to 

 breed. Long, mossy hair is the mark of beef stock. 



