CLASS CHARACTERISTICS 313 



Class Characteristics. — The development of the dairy 

 animal may be divided into three rather distinct stages or 

 periods which include the mature form in the aged dairy 

 cow, heifer development, and calves. 



Mature Form. — ^The mature dairy animal can be judged 

 or qualifications depicted from the dairy standpoint reason- 

 ably accurately. The chief difficulty in determining the 

 value of such animals is during their non-productive period 

 or after the cessation of lactation. This brings into use 

 reasoning power based on the possible value of the dairy 

 animal as determined by quality, conformation, and dairy 

 temperament. The udder development is usually a good 

 indication of the value of an animal, although it may be 

 misleading. 



In judging mature animals, particular stress should be 

 placed on present dairy qualifications and the records in 

 the herd if they are available. When an animal is selected 

 during the lactation period allowance should be made for the 

 duration or brevity of time which the animal has been 

 milked. Unusual development at the beginning of the 

 lactation period and slack development at the end of the 

 period may be misleading. However, a close estimate can 

 be made by balancing the udder development with the 

 other dairy characteristics possessed. In selecting after 

 the close of the lactation period, the size and shape of the 

 udder, the character of the mammary veins, and the size of 

 the wells should all be noticed closely. Proper correlation 

 of all these characteristics and other evidences of dairy 

 form will usually furnish a close estimate of the value of an 

 animal. 



Heifer Development. — In selecting heifers close attention 

 should be given to the outcome of such animals. Present 

 dairy form or other attributes are valuable, but the possi- 

 bilities must be taken into consideration. Stress should be 

 placed on the weight for age, quality, constitution, dairy 

 temperament, and indications of mammary development. 

 Short, shallow-bodied animals, thus lacking in capacity, and 

 having slack development otherwise in the constitution and 

 mammary system are very objectionable. 



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