LEADING DAIRY BREEDS 115 



milk and 1,316 pounds of butter fat. This places her second in 

 world's production of butter fat. Her record is exceeded only by 

 that of Agassiz Segis May Echo, with 1345 pounds. This record 

 clearly centers attention on the Milking Shorthorn as a contender 

 for dairy honors among strictly dairy cattle. 



179. Milking Shorthorn type.— It is rather plain from their 

 writings that breeders of Milking Shorthorns do not wish to be 

 classed as breeders of dairy cattle strictly speaking. They believe 

 that their cattle are really dual-purpose and that the ideal type 

 of Milking Shorthorn must not go to the extreme dairy type 

 because of the necessary beefing qualities of the breed. 



Instead of trying to put the qualities and points to be attained 

 in the ideal of the Milking Shorthorn into our own words, we 

 will quote from the statement of the breed association on judg- 

 ing Milking Shorthorns: 



"Milking Shorthorns are produced to perform a dual function, 

 viz. : the production of beef and the production of milk and butter 

 fat. A good judge knows that there are close relationships existing 

 between form and function. To produce beef and milk, an animal 

 must be a good feeder, indicated by a wide muzzle and roominess 

 in the region of the digestive organs. The good beef animal must 

 have a strong, straight and wide back, with strong loin and well- 

 sprung ribs. The milk animal shows her ability to produce by 

 having a good udder well held up between the thighs and carried 

 well forward beneath to the belly. The teats should be uniform in 

 size and evenly placed well apart. Milk veins should be large and 

 extend well forward toward the front legs. 



"It is not possible to attain the extreme dairy type and retain 

 the necessary beefing qualities of the Milking Shorthorn. There 

 are characteristics common to both beef and dairy animals and 

 these the Milking Shorthorn should have. Shorthorn character 

 should be noticeable in the shape and type of head and horn. The 

 eye should be clear, indicating health, and the horn ought to be 

 short and slightly curving forward. The neck (on the cow) should 

 be graceful but not slight; shoulders well laid in, smooth and not 

 too thick at the top. The chest should be deep and wide, indicating 



