276 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



try give it a critical inspection. The dairy cow. as a milk- 

 ing machine, requires a more detailed examination than does 

 the animal engaged in beef production. The udder, milk 

 veins and wells require careful investigation, as most im- 

 portant features of conformation. 



The general appearance of the dairy cow includes her 

 weight or size, the form as a whole, her quality and tempera- 

 ment. These features the judge may study as he examines 

 the cattle at some distance, taking in the entire animal at 

 rest and walk. As a dairy animal, she should impress one 

 as lean of flesh, somewhat angular of frame, the front part 

 of the body narrow, widening toward the rear into large, 

 capacious hindquarters. This lean, angular form, heavier 

 behind than in front, represents the wedge shape, which is 

 in striding contrast to the blocky conformation of the beef- 

 producing animal. 



The weight or size of the dairy cow is quite dependent 

 on her breeding. If she represents a pure line of ancestry, 

 then her weight will depend on the breed. A weight of 

 900 pounds would meet all requirements in case of a 

 Jersey, while in a Holstein-Friesian this would be entirely 

 too light. With acceptable weights ranging from 600 

 pounds with the Dexter to 1,800 pounds with the Holstein- 

 Friesian, it is not desirable to establish a fixed standard 

 for a general score card. It is desirable, however, for the 

 judge to estimate the weight of the animal scored, making 

 record of this, and weighing later, if convenient. One agri- 

 cultural college states on its score card that the dairy cow 

 should not weigh less than 800 pounds, but in the case of 

 the Dexter cow, some of the finest examples of the breed, 

 with remarkable mammary development, have weighed 

 much less than this. Other college score cards entirely ig- 

 nore weight. Standard weights of Jersey cows range from 

 800 to 1,000 pounds; the Holstein-Friesian must weigh at 

 least 1,000 pounds at full age, and score at least 75 points 

 to enter the advanced registry; the Ayrshire must weigh 

 not less than 1,000 pounds, while 1,050 has been used as a 



