20 



FARMERS BULLETIN 920. 



kids without these appendages. The class of does to which the buck 

 is bred will of course have some influence in this respect. 



In cases where only a few does are kept, it would be not only 

 cheaper but more convenient to send them away to be bred. A buck 

 is usually a troublesome individual and must be kept away from the 

 rest of the herd. Many of the leading breeders breed outside does, 

 and the charges made are usually very reasonable. 



Many small breeders are compelled to use cross-bred or grade 

 bucks; in such cases selections should be made upon conformation 

 and breeding. 



FIG. 11. Common American doe No. 66. Dam of doe No. 114, shown in fig. 7. Produced 367 pounds 

 of milk, testing 7.6 per cent fat, in a lactation period of 275 days. 



SELECTION OF THE DOE. 



Although it is not always possible, it is much more satisfactory in 

 making selections to see does during their lactation period. This 

 not only gives an opportunity to study their conformation when they 

 are producing, but the udder development, which is so important, 

 can be better considered. 



A good doe should have a feminine head, thin neck, sharp withers, 

 well-defined spine and hips, thin thighs, and rather fine bone. The 

 skin should be fine and thin when examined over the ribs. She 

 should have good digestive capacity, as shown by the spring of rib 

 and size of stomach. The so-called wedge shape of the dairy cow 



