JUDGING DAIRY CATTLE OO 



from the loin to the attachment of the tail. Some think 

 this conformation indicates vigor, but a more reasonable 

 view of the merit of the point asserts that it is to some 

 extent unfavorable for the premature birth of calves. 



140. Hips Sharp, Wide Apart. The hip bones should 

 be prominent, sharp and wide apart, giving plenty of room 

 to the generative organs. From the point of the hip to 

 the end of the tail there should be a marked hollow or 

 shrinkage, due to the absence of the flesh, a condition 

 characteristic of heavy performers when in full milk. 



141. Thigh Thin, In-curving. The thigh, for the same 

 reason should be thin and retreating and possessed of 

 length. A thin thigh, decidedly in-curving is a note- 

 worthy feature. Attention has been drawn to the use of 

 the tail as a plumb line to determine the degree to which 

 the thigh curves. 



142. Escutcheon High, Wide, Spreading. Viewing 

 the thighs and the region of the cow above the udder, it 

 will be observed that on this part the hair runs in the 

 opposite direction from that to which it inclines on the 

 other parts of the body. Where it does this, it is known 

 as the escutcheon, to which attention was first directed by 

 Guenon. It is supposed that the reason of this hair grow- 

 ing in the direction mentioned is due to the artery which 

 passes this part. The artery supplying the udder with 

 blood also nourishes the skin on which the escutcheon 

 grows. Many have the idea that Guenon considered this 

 the only point of value in determining the worth of 

 a cow. The fact is that he considered it only one of ten 

 to be included in the merits of a first-class dairy cow. 

 There is some reason for considering the escutcheon as it 

 is undoubtedly to a degree an index of the quantity of 

 blood received by the udder, for the same reason that 

 the milk veins are of value as they indicate the quantity of 

 blood that leaves the udder. In 1878 a commission was 

 appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to inquire into 

 the reliability of this point, and they reported in its favor. 



