THE JUDGING OF COWS 117 



true that the price at which dairy cows sell depends 

 largely on their Advanced Registry certificate, i.e., 

 the officially certified records as to their ability to 

 produce pounds of milk and butter-fat. It is also 

 true, however, that really high prices will never 

 be paid for cows that carry misshapen udders and 

 sloping rumps and winged shoulders. In other 

 words, men who love cattle demand not only ability 

 to give high production but good individuality as 

 well. 



There are two different ideals in judging cattle. 

 Unfortunately, almost every breed at some period 

 of its development has suffered because the men 

 setting breed fashions have followed some per- 

 sonal fancy or fad or character which had no par- 

 ticular connection with usefulness, dairy efficiency 

 or beauty. For example, not so long ago Jersey 

 breeders laid great stress on the importance of 

 solid color together with a black switch and tongue 

 characters that can have no possible relation to 

 dairy temperament or capacity. Judging cattle 

 according to merely fanciful standards or points 

 that have no bearing on the question of production 

 is very superficial. Fortunately, on the whole, 

 there is less of this judging than there was at an 

 earlier period of the pure-bred business. 



On the other hand, as representing the seasoned 

 experience and observation of many handlers and 

 students of dairy cows, there has come a substan- 

 tial agreement concerning certain external charac- 



