50 



DAIRY FARMING 



pearance, her soft pliable skin and soft hair show that she is 

 not thin on account of a lack of feed. An animal thin in 

 flesh on account of insufficient feed has a stupid appearance 

 and shows a lack of vigor, while the hair generally is rough 

 and stands on end. In either case the paunch may be large 

 or small, depending on the bulkiness of the feed consumed. 



__^ So characteristic is the 



angular appearance of the 

 dairy cow that an animal 

 ^^k that does not show this 



form when in full flow of 

 milk should not be selected. 

 When the cow is near the 

 end of the lactation period, 

 or is dry, she should carry 

 more flesh, and it is a mis- 

 take to be too quick to con- 

 demn a cow at this stage 

 for being too beefy. 



The well-developed beef 

 animal on the other hand is 



square and blocky. The general shape, leaving the legs 

 and head out of consideration, is rectangular. The back is 

 broad and level, the thighs full and straight. 



This difference in the shape of the body of a high-class 

 dairy cow and of a fat steer ready for market is shown by the 

 cross sections in Fig. 9. These were obtained by a device 

 that made it possible to get the exact outlines. 



41. The Udder. A well-developed udder is the most 

 important characteristic to be considered in selecting a cow 

 for milk production. Since this gland has the function of 

 secreting the milk, its size and development are of the great- 



FIG. 10. A well-formed udder. 

 Note the length of attachment to the 

 body, and the well-developed fore- 

 quarters. 



