56 DAIRY FARMING 



be familiar with the points of the animal as illustrated in 

 Fig. 18. The use of the score card is an advantage to the 

 beginner as a means of impressing the points to be taken into 

 account and their relative importance. It helps to make the 

 examination systematic and prevents one from forgetting 

 points that should be observed. The value of the score 

 card decreases as experience is gained. Judging in the show 

 ring is done entirely by comparison. 



The score card given on page 77 is in use by the Depart- 

 ment of Dairy Husbandry, University of Missouri, and is 

 an attempt to give the points that are important in teaching 

 the selection of dairy cows for milk production. It gives 

 comparatively little attention to the smaller details of con- 

 formation or to breed type. 



SELECTION BY PERFORMANCE RECORDS 



45. Selection by Records. While it is often necessary 

 to select cows by appearances when buying, it is not neces- 

 sary to follow this plan after the animals are in the herd. A 

 more business-like plan is to keep a record of production for 

 each individual in order that the unprofitable animals may 

 be known and rejected. The records to be kept will depend 

 to some extent upon the use made of the milk. If it is sold 

 by quantity regardless of quality, then the total production 

 is the important fact. If the price of milk is based upon the 

 butter-fat, both the quantity and the quality need to be 

 known. 



46. Overrating the Importance of Rich Milk. A com- 

 mon mistake in judging cows by records is attaching too much 

 importance to the percentage of fat. The cow that produces 

 the richest milk does not necessarily give the largest amount 

 of fat, nor does it follow that she is the most economical pro- 



