QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 363 



What unsoundnesses in horses may be regarded as sufficient cause 

 for disqualification of animals by judges in the show ring? 



Some judges disqualify horses which show lameness from any 

 cause whatsoever. But it would seem more logical to disqualify 

 only those in which the lameness is due to structural changes in the 

 limbs, such as ring-bone, navicular bursitis, spavin, curb, splints, 

 quittor, laminitis, tendonitis, shoulder, hip and stifle lameness, etc., 

 and to ignore temporary lameness due to nail-wounds, corns, thrush, 

 etc. 



Other recognized unsoundnesses are: roaring, heaves, periodic 

 ophthalmia, blindness, infectious diseases (glanders, influenza, 

 dourine, etc.), osteoporosis, congenital malformations (cryptorchid- 

 ism, monorchidism, hernise, etc. ) , chronic hydrocephalus and vicious 

 habits. 



What diseases are hereditary in horses? Mention faulty conforma- 

 tions that predispose to unsoundness in horses. 

 The consensus of opinion would indicate that there are few, if 

 any, hereditary diseases. But there is no doubt about the transmis- 

 sion of defects in conformation. Among the latter should be 

 mentioned : 



Curby hocks. Base narrow. 



Narrow hocks. Toe wide. 



Knee- sprung. Toe narrow. 



Calf-knees. Narrow, long-coupled back. 



Short, upright pasterns. Small, deep-set eyes. 



Base wide. Narrow forehead. 



These defects predispose to unsoundness. 



What are the characteristics of a good milch cow? 



Head : Small and clean cut ; muzzle large ; forehead straight or 

 concave ; small horns ; eyes bright and prominent. 



Neck: Long and thin. 



Body: Soft, fine, thick hair; clean, pliable skin; broad loins 

 but not thickly fleshed as in the beef type; frame wedge-shaped, 

 tapering from rump to shoulder ; flank high ; abdomen well barrelled 



and roomy. 



Udder : Broad, full, extending high up behind and far forward ; 

 not loose, pendulent, and fleshy ; teats large, evenly placed, and wide 

 apart ; large, prominent milk- veins. 



Extremities : Fore limbs short and wide apart ; long and power- 

 ful hind quarters with thin thighs, widely separated ; tail long, slim, 

 and loosely jointed. 



Temperament : Docile ; heavy feeder. 



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