JUDGING THE DAIRY TYPE OF CATTLE 



293 



insignificant pelvic arches. A wide rump, however, from 

 hips to pin bones is very essential. A wide spacing be- 

 tween the pin bones is especially important, otherwise, as 

 cattlemen know, the calf may be delivered with great diffi- 

 culty. A peaked rump, pin bones close together, with sharp 

 sloping toward both the rear and sides, makes an extremely 

 bad conformation, justifying severe action on the part of 

 the judge. Such a rump is not only bad from a physiologi- 



Fig. 162. "The tail proper turning a square angle just above the 

 pin bones." 



cal point of view, as affecting maternity, but is also associ- 

 ated with limited udder room below. The tail not only 

 gives balance and proportion to the cow, but serves as a 

 valuable aid in fighting flies. It also serves as an indi- 

 cator of quality. The tail head should be neatly attached 

 on a level with the end of the spine, the tail proper turn- 

 ing a square angle just above the pin bones, and reaching 

 to the point of hocks. The brush should contain plenty of 

 long hair and reach nearly to the level of the feet. Flies 

 bite and irritate the thin-skinned dairy cow far more than 

 the beef animal, hence the importance of a long tail as a 



