JUDGING DAIRY CATTLE 83 



if she possesses good dairy qualities there is likely to be 

 a lean appearance over every region of the body show- 

 ing that she is an animal of nervous organization and 

 further that she utilizes all her foods for the making of milk 

 and not for the filling out of her form. 



In a good dairy cow there is a feminine look that is very 

 characteristic. There is no thickening of the neck, or a 

 crest on the neck, or any heaviness of the fore quarters indi- 

 cating the slightest masculinity, but all of these parts are 

 light, clean cut and in every way indicative of feminine 

 character. The size of the dairy cow comes into the discus- 

 sion of type. This has something to do with her perform- 

 ance, but there is no distinct advantage in having a cow very 

 large if there is not with it characteristics which indicate 

 enlarged dairy qualities. 



134. Skin Soft, Fine. The skin should be soft and 

 comparatively thin. It is a point of much value to discrim- 

 inate against a thin, papery skin, as such is usually associ- 

 ated with the weakness of constitution. The skin should be 

 unctuous, or oily to the touch, giving the impression that 

 butter might be squeezed out of it. When the secretions of 

 the skin are healthy it may be expected that the secretions 

 in the rest of the body are going on vigorously. The skin 

 lining the ear should be a golden color and so should that in 

 the region of the udder, inside the thighs, around the eyes, 

 at the root of the tail and below any spots of white hair. 



135. Hair Silky, Fine. The hair covering all the body 

 should be short, soft and silky. The udder especially should 

 be covered with hair of this character, and not with long, 

 coarse hair, as is often observed on poorly milking animals. 

 Coarse, harsh hair is generally an indication of lack of 

 refinement and an evidence of unthriftiness. 



136. Bone Fine Texture. The dairy cow in her daily 

 life needs but sufficient bone to maintain her form. As a 

 rule the milking cows are loose in form but possessed of fine 



