CHAPTER II. 



EVOLUTION OF THE: DAIRY cow. 



The dairy cow is one of the most useful as well as one 

 of the most profitable of all our domestic animals. Her 

 products not only supply an indispensable want in the 

 human dietary, but they are also the source of much profit 

 to her owner. 



Comparing the modern cow with her primitive ances- 

 tors a most interesting and instructive evolution in her 

 milk giving function is noted. In the wild or primitive 

 state her milk production was confined to a short period 

 following parturition and was barely sufficient for the 

 support of the calf. In her present form the amount of 

 milk necessary for the support of the calf constitutes but 

 a small part of her total possible production and its secre- 

 tion is almost incessant. 



Like the race horse, the dairy cow has been bred and 

 handled for a specific purpose for a number of centuries. 

 Continued specialization has resulted not only in an 

 enormous increase of milk and butterfat production, but 

 as a result of such increased production there has been 

 created a specific conformation known as the dairy type. 



At no period in the development of the dairy cow have 

 such great strides been made as in the past half a cen- 

 tury. Indeed, the period of general and systematic im- 

 provement in the common stock may be said to date from 

 the invention of the Babcock test. Fifteen years ago the 

 average butter production was approximately 125 pounds 



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