88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



stitution is indicated by the large open nostril, large wind- 

 pipe, deptb from the top of the shoulder to the floor of the 

 chest, and breadth of chest. These indications must be pos- 

 sessed by the cows close up in our bull's pedigree if he is to 

 be the progenitor of a great herd of dairy animals. The 

 mother of our bull, and the grandmothers as well, must have 

 capacity to digest large quantities of food without destroy- 

 ing their future usefulness. It is not enough to know that 

 these cows have done a good year's work, but that they are 

 able to repeat the performance for a period of years. She 

 should have a large mouth, and, what is of equal importance, 

 width, depth and strength of jaw. She should have a long, 

 broad, deep barrel, though length is not of as great im- 

 portance as breadth and depth. She should have broad, flat, 

 well-sprung ribs; but more important than these is that 

 indefinable thing that judges call quality; and here, the eye 

 failing, the judge of the dairy cow must determine by the 

 feel of the texture of the hide and hair whether the cow has 

 strength and efiiciency to properly digest her food. 



The cow must have a strong nervous temperament also 

 if she is to digest her food well and secrete the milk neces- 

 sary to make her a profitable animal. The large, bright, 

 prominent, placid eye, and the intelligent expression indi- 

 cate this type of nervous temperament. The spinal processes 

 should be open and free from fat, not large but sharp and 

 clean cut. The hips and ribs should also be free from fat, 

 sharp and well defined. This matter of nervous temperament 

 must not be slighted. Sit around and watch her for a half 

 an hour if you are thinking of buying her. See that she is 

 ever at her work and is not easily disturbed. 



The mammary veins and milk wells are the best indica- 

 tions of a strong circulation. The veins should be long, 

 large and as tortuous as may be. If they enter the abdomen 

 through many milk wells so much the better. The milk 

 wells should be large and clean cut. Study well also the 

 udder and its attachment. Insist on the large, broad, spheri- 

 cal udder running way to the front and attached high in 

 the rear and level on the bottom. Avoid the pendant and 

 tilted udders. The thigh must be thin and incurving, to 



