332 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



and fitting them for exhibition is likewise very different. 

 The aim is to show both when giving milk after a suf- 

 ficient age has been reached to admit of showing them 

 thus. This is not always adhered to in exhibiting cattle 

 of the dual tj'pes, as with these even cows are some- 

 times shown in the beef form. Of course, males of the 

 dual t3'pes are shown in a reasonably high condition of 

 flesh, and also heifers not yet in milk. A¥hile condition 

 does not count for very much with dairy animals in the 

 show ring, it must not be entirely ignored. Though 

 free milking has a tendency to lower the condition of 

 the cow, there is a point beyond which leanness should 

 not be allowed to go even in a dairy cow that is well 

 fed, lest her vitality be lowered beyond that degree 

 of vigor which is necessary to insure maximum pro- 

 duction. This means t^at great milk producers will 

 call for more carbohydrates in the food than other cows, 

 in order to maintain a sufficiency of flesh. It is safe to 

 say that the weight of opinion on the part of good 

 judges is that dairy cows should not come into the show 

 ring in a condition of leanness that is unattractive to 

 the eye of the judge. On the other hand, they should 

 never be put in that condition of high flesh that will 

 weaken their bulk-producing powers. Happily, it is 

 never necessary, when fitting these types of cattle for 

 exhibition, to put them in flesh much different from 

 that which they should carry in the home stables. But 

 they should be given enough grooming to insure that 

 the coat at the time of exhibiting will be decidedly 

 attractive. 



Except in the case of heifers that are shown quite 

 young, the aim should be to have the cows shown in the 

 best form possible for milk production. This means 

 that they should come into lactation just long enough 

 l.)eforehand to allow the udder to get into normal condi- 

 tion by the time the animals are shown. One evidence 

 of milk-giving capacity is thus presented to the eye, 



