10 



BULLETIN 434, U. S. DEPAETMEIS^T OF AGEICULTUEE. 



lative powers. A spongy, coarse bone is objectionable because it is 

 not strong, and is likely to be associated with low vitality and 

 general inefficiency. Excessive flesh, on a dairy cow while in milk 

 indicates that there is not the desired specialization of milking 

 function, but rather that the feed is used to produce flesh. The 

 flesh should be muscular and free from fat. 



Beginning at the head, the individual parts of the cow will now 

 be taken up and an attempt made to describe the desirable form 

 which indicates production. 



Fig. 6.— The nature and condition of the digestive organs is revealed in the skin and 



its covering of hair. 



Head. — The heads of the male and female are much the same ex- 

 cept that more size and heaviness are expected in that of the former. 

 As a whole, the head should have a clean cut outline and be free 

 from any coarseness of bone, flesh, or skin. In the bull score card 

 more weight is given this part than in the cow score card. This 

 is owing to the fact that the general character of the bull and his 

 masculinity are evidenced in his head (fig. 7). The main function 

 performed by the head is the taking in and mastication of feed. A 

 strong, muscular muzzle and jaws indicate ability to handle large 

 quantities of feed. The form and quality of face, forehead, eye, and 

 horn indicate the nervous energy and refinement essential to pro- 

 ductive abilit3^ 



