SELECTION OF COWS. 21 



on well apart. Large, full milk veins that carry the blood from the udder 

 to the heart through large "milk- wells" or openings through the walls of the 

 chest are indications of a large flow of milk. 



Some other points which good cows usually have, but not always, might 

 be mentioned. These are the thin, slim neck, the clean, well cut up throat, 

 the thin withers and the long tail. 



A great many men when judging of a cow's dairy ability are guided 

 almost entirely by the udder. If that is large and fine they think she must 

 be a good cow, no matter what the form otherwise is. Of course, a good 

 udder usually goes with a good dairy form, but not always, and when it does 

 not the cow is either a partial or total failure as a dairy cow. A cow may 

 have a large udder and give a good quantity of milk for a short time, but. if 

 she has not a good dairy form, she has not the machinery to keep on filling 

 her udder long enough to make her a profitable cow. More men have been 

 deceived by a large udder than by anything else about a cow, because that 

 was almost the only feature they looked at. 



The buyer should never fail to examine carefully the udder of every cow 

 he thinks of selecting to see that it is sound; has no paralyzed quarters and 

 gives milk easily and freely from all four of her teats. 



SOME FAULTS OF COWS. 



Sometimes an otherwise excellent cow is rendered partially or totally 

 worthless for the dairy because of a habit of leaking milk. This fault cannot 

 always be detected unless the milk is seen to be leaking. It does not follow 

 that because a cow milks easily that she will leak her milk; far from it. 

 Still those that do leak usually milk rather easy. Sometimes the milk 

 seems to drip away from the teats nearly as fast as it is made and the udder 

 is always nearly empty. This makes a cow worthless as a milker but can 

 be detected at any time except when she is dry. Other cows do not leak 

 until the udder is well distended and she lies down, forcing the milk out in a 

 stream and making quite a puddle of milk on the ground or floor. Sometimes 

 the close observer will detect this. 



Another fault that some cows have is the habit of sucking other cows, 

 or, worse still, of sucking themselves. My advice is never to buy such a cow 

 under any circumstances if one can detect the fault. Such a cow may pos- 

 sibly be prevented from sucking, but she can never be cured of the inclina- 

 tion to do so and will surely be a source of vexation. 



If the cow you are looking at has a ring in her nose, or has her nose 

 pierced for a ring, don't buy her. That was done for something, and prob- 

 ably in a vain attempt to prevent her from sucking. If she has her tongue 

 slit it is for the same reason. But, no matter, she can suck just the same. 

 If the hair is worn o^' about her head or neck, be sure that it is not caused 

 by some toggery put there to prevent her sucking. 



