692 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



under four months of age are vigorous and healthy, the herd 

 is a comparatively safe one from which to purchase. If the 

 number of calves is low, and they are gaunt or pot-bellied, 

 with dirty rough coats, or their tails are smeared with feces, 

 the herd is an unsafe one from which to buy. In such herds 

 no animals may be shown for sale until over three to four 

 months old, when perhaps they have attained apparent vigor. 

 This should not deceive the alert buyer. The breeding health 

 of the herd should be based upon the comparative number of 

 calves and their health up to one hundred and twenty days 

 old. 



7. The prospective purchaser should regularly guard his 

 interests by having a skilled veterinarian examine in detail 

 the genital organs of each animal prior to completing a pur- 

 chase. If a bull is of breeding age, it is best to add to a thor- 

 ough manual examination of his genital organs, a micro- 

 scopic examination of his semen with reference to the num- 

 ber, motility and conformation of the spermatozoa as well as 

 a search of his semen for bacteria. The method of making 

 such examinations has already been considered. The genital 

 organs of cows and heifers should be examined per vaginam 

 and rectum. If a heifer has been bred thirty or more days, 

 or a cow sixty or more days, the veterinarian can determine 

 if she is pregnant. Such examinations should not displace 

 or affect warranty. If disease of the genital organs is pres- 

 ent, the prospective purchaser does not wish the animal, 

 whatever warranty may be offered. Frequently absolutely 

 and incurably sterile females are conscientiously sold as 

 pregnant. Occasionally an animal without genital organs is 

 sold as a pregnant heifer or as a heifer capable of breeding. 

 It i s best to settle such cases before purchase occurs. 



8. The progressive, conscientious breeder should have 

 complete orderly breeding records for each animal and for 

 the herd as a whole. These records should be frankly open 

 for inspection to any prospective buyer. If a cow has been 

 bred three or four times in order to secure pregnancy, the 

 prudent purchaser will not buy, whether she is pregnant or 

 not, or, if he buys, should weigh fully the risk. Such an ani- 

 mal should be purchased at a comparatively low figure. 



