290 



JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



Fig. 159. "A deep hind flank will be associated with a capacious 

 body and deep rib." 



This theory was for some time advocated, and has been em- 

 phasized on some score cards. The Guernsey scale of 

 points, in the formation of which Governor Hoard no doubt 

 had much influence, states that ' ' constitution is best indicated 

 by a full development at the navel, and strong abdominal 

 walls, showing that the animal when in a prenatal state was 

 abundantly nourished by the mother through a well-devel- 

 oped umbilical cord." This is an interesting theory, which 

 apparently is made little use of to-day, and concerning the 

 actual merits of which no exact information has been con- 

 tributed to the public. Wing states n that careful observa- 

 tion has shown that the size of the umbilicus is more of a 

 breed than an individual characteristic. 



The hindquarters of the dairy cow have a special im- 

 portance in the estimation of the dairyman, because the 

 conformation of this part is a vital factor in milk produc- 

 tion. A superior mammary development is not likely to 



31 The Dairy Herd. 

 54, 1913, p. 55. 



Henry II. Wing, Cornell Reading Course, Vol. 3, No. 



