Vol. XVI., Second Seeies. 



ROCHESTER, N. T., AUGUST, 1855. 



No. 8 



THE GENESEE FARMER, 



AGRICULTUR E & HOR TIOULTURE. 

 Volume XVI, Second Series, 1855 



DA\IEL LEE AXD JA3IES VICK, EDITORS. 



JOSEPH FRO.?T, nORTICrLTfE.VL EDITOR. 



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POIKTS OF EXCELLENCE IN CATTLE. 

 CHAPTER II. 



TriE E.wcutive Committee of the New York State 

 - Agricultural Society feeling the importance of secu- 

 riuL', as far as practicable, the most perfect animals, 

 secured the advice and co-operation of gentlemen 

 familiar with cattle; and the annexed points of ex- 

 cellence, prepared by them, Tvere adopted by the 

 New York State Agricultural Society, for the guid- 

 iftuce of the judges at their annual Fairs. 



The numbers aEBxed to the points described, form 

 the maximum that is to be allowed for each, and in 

 proi)ortion as the animal undpr examination is defi- 

 cient in any point, so will the judges decrease the 

 number, even should nothing be allowed for that 

 point. 



Points which are characteristic, and therefore com- 

 mon to a breed, though very valuable in themselves, 

 arc marked comparatively low, because they are ea- 

 sily obtained and demand but little sldll or attention 

 on the part of the breeder; nevertheless, an animal 

 not possessing the characteristics of its own breed 

 must of necessity be almost worthless. On the other 

 hand, it will be observed that points of less value, 

 perhaps, in themselves, but which are characteristio 



deficiences in the breed, or at any rate diflBcult to 

 sustain at their masimum excellence, are marked 

 numerically high, as they go far to complete or per- 

 fect the natural excellence of the animal. Again,' 

 for the above reasons, it will be found that the points 

 in different breeds have different numerical values 

 attached to them. 



Points op a Siiort-IIorx Cow. — Pedigree — 

 Showing an unbroken descent on both sides from 

 known animals, derived from English herds, as found 

 in the English or American Herd Books; and with- 

 out this, an animal can not compete in this clasi 



3. The Head. — Small, lean, and bony, tapering to 

 the muzzle. 



2. The Faee — Somewhat long, the fleshy portion 

 of the nose of .a light, delicate color. 



2. The Eye — Is of great significance, and should 

 be prominent, bright, and clear — "prominent" from 

 an accumulation' of " adeps " in the back part of its 

 socket, which indicates a tendency to lay on fat ; — 

 "bright," as an evidence of a good disposition ;' — 

 " clear," as a guarantee of the animal's health; where- 

 as a dull, sluggish eye belongs to a slow feeder, and 

 a wild, restless eye betrays an unquiet, fitful temper 



1. The Horns — Light in substance and waxy in 

 color, and symmetrically set on the head; the ear 

 large, thin, and with considerable action. 



2. The JVeck — Rather short than long, tapering 

 to the head; clean in the throat, and full at its base, 

 thus covering and filling out the points of the shoul- 

 ders. 



14. The Chest — Broad from point to point of the 

 shoulders; deep from the anterior dorsal vertebra to 

 the floor of the sternum, and both round and full 

 just back of the elbows, sometimes designated by 

 the phrase " thick through the heart." These are 

 unquestionably the most important points in every 

 animal, as constitution must depend on their perfect 



