QUALITY 277 



terms is simple. They imply an increasing depth of body 

 toward the rear as viewed from the side, an increasing 

 width of body toward the rear as viewed from in front, and 

 an increasing width toward the floor of the barrel as viewed 

 from above. The whole of this development is significant of 

 barrel capacity which is one of the real fundamentals of dairy 

 production. It is exemplified in magnified body capacity 

 and in this respect is widely different from any other type 

 of animal. 



Fig. 116. — Side wedge of the dairy cow, showing the general tendency to 

 grow deeper toward the hindquarters. 



Quality. — ^The dairy animal should possess an abundance 

 of quality. It should have a clean-cut, refined appearance 

 about the head and neck and sharp, well-defined withers. 

 The spine should be spare and open, the skin pliable and 

 elastic, the hair fine and oily, and the bone dense and fine in 

 texture. This attribute is important, not only because of 

 its special relation to the type and refinement of the animal, 

 but because of its influence on maintenance and cost of 

 production. A large, coarse-boned dairy animal is seldom 

 an economical producer. Although such an animal may 



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