CHAPTER II. 

 ON A NEW THEORY OF BREEDING CATTLE. 



The following, which is the new theory of breeding dairy cattle, 

 is taken from an American review on the selection oi dairy stock : 

 " We get the foundation of the knowledge needed in the selection of 

 dairy stock by noting how the dairy qualities of cattle ar-e first de- 

 veloped. The work begins by exciting the udder to the unnatural 

 activity found in high-class cows by stripping it continuously of all 

 the milk secreted. Such stripping or milking dry is a call on Nature 

 for more milk, which leads to a call lor more blood from which the 

 milk is produced thence more food to produce the needed blood. 

 This order, persistently followed, leads to the formation on the part of 

 Nature of an animal that eats largely, digests and assimilates well 

 requiring an excellent constitution and .expends additional force in 

 elaborating the milk from the large quantity o-f blood produced from 

 the abundance of food consumed during the twenty-four hours of each 

 day, according to the size of the animal." 



We can make a condensed summary statement of thess words : 

 The cow eats largely, digests amply, milks abundantly. Again, we 

 can state that the dairy cow represents a high type of a great eater, 

 with strong digestive and great milk production. Nature will then, 

 in wisdom, provide strong jaws for eating, a great paunch for food, 

 great udder for milk and, what is of greater importance still, a vigor- 

 ous nerve organisation to drive digestive capacity and milk secretion. 

 With such a review of the forces brought into action in this matter of 

 dci^ry development we will now describe in detail the true type of the 

 dairy cow and note the laws governing its growth and improvement. 



We will divide the description into five heads, viz.: Indications of 

 vitality, nerve 'fo'rce, digestion, milk assimilation, and incidental in- 

 dications. First, \itality :This part should be very carefully guarded. 

 Physicians state that the dread disease '* tuberculosis" follows in the 

 track of the cow. Low vitality tends to poor and diseased blood 

 and from it we obtain diseased milk and death. We do not 

 attempt to examine as a veterinary expert, but note the following jin(- 

 dications of a strong constitution that we want : First, let the um- 

 bilical attachment be large. This is a good indication that the mother 

 of the calf nourished the foetus well. Second, let there be a great 

 depth through the heart and lung region. This indication should be 

 looked for between the forelegs and the shoulder-blades and the de- 

 velopment behind and about 6in. lower than the spine, which should 

 be well defined. As you stand in front of a cow the -forelegs should 

 stand well apart. The reason for such amplitude here is manifest. 

 Third, let the junction of the spine and skull be broad. A strong at- 

 tachment here is evidence of a large vertebra, which is ever present 

 in the dairy family with a vigorous nerve developmnt, This animal 

 will ever scale low in bone and muscle in comparison with her beef 

 producing sister, but must be extra strong in the nerve system. A 

 strong nerve 'System is ve'ry good evidence of a good constitution in 

 a dairy cow. Fourth, let the hair be oily or well nourished, and the 

 skin mellow or pliable, especially over the hindquarters. These con- 

 ditions, however, are hard to describe, but are readily recognised by 

 experience. They mean good circulation and nutrition. It is very 

 seldom indeed a practical man is deceived in the handling of a dairy 

 animal yet it's not infallible. 



Nerve Force. First, the. eye should be large and full with a quiet 

 look. Secretion of milk is part of the passion of procreation. The 

 udder is supplied with a network of nerves. The continued milk giv- 

 ing continually excites these many nerves to action, which, in turn, 



167. 



