JUDGING THE DAIRY TYPE OF CATTLE 289 



should be broad and not depressed in front of the hip. A 

 width that does not show any sharp contraction just in 

 front of the hips should be sought. Lack of flesh over the 

 loin is often responsible for a falling away here. A firm, 

 strong development of the muscle over the loin is not an- 

 tagonistic to dairy conformation. The judge is justified 

 in discriminating against a weak, depressed loin. The rib s 

 should be long and well sprung below, thereby giving large 

 capacity for feeding and reproduction. It will be noticed 

 that, largely due to lack of flesh covering, the ribs of the 

 dairy animal do not show so much level extension from 

 the spine, before curving downward, as do the ribs of beef 

 cattle. However, the ribs should have an increasing curve 

 outward and downward, expressing the wedge conformation 

 in front, yet associated with much depth and abdominal 

 capacity all through. Length of body is a feature of the 

 dairy cow, and this is associated with some openness of 

 space between the ribs, especially those nearest the hind- 

 quarter. The last two or three ribs are often separated so 

 that one may easily insert the fingers between with a free- 

 dom not possible with beef cattle. The flanks, both in front 

 and behind should be full and deep. There has been some 

 difference of opinion among judges on the character of flank 

 development, especially behind, and both high and low 

 flanks have been advocated. A deep, full front flank is 

 indicative of strong heart girth and outlines the curve of 

 the lower part of chest. A deep hind flank will be associ- 

 ated with a capacious body and deep rib, and if thin in 

 flesh, is most consistent with dairy type. On the contrary, 

 the high flank is a feature of the shallow body and 

 denotes a poor feeder. The navel, the point on the belly 

 where the umbilicus or cord of the calf connected with 

 the mother before birth, at one time was regarded as 

 evidence of constitutional vigor. Ex.-Gov. W. D. 

 Hoard of Wisconsin first advanced the argument that 

 a large navel indicated a strong attachment of the calf 

 to the dam before birth, resulting in vigorous offspring. 



