GROWING AND FITTING CATTLE FOR EXHIBITION 333 



should the cows be shown with full udders. The prac- 

 tice of bringing the cows into the show ring with udders 

 unduly distended, the result of deferred milking, is un- 

 necessary and cruel, and should be frowned upon by the 

 judge. In close contests it would aid the judge could 

 he see the udders of very heavy milkers when both full 

 and empty, but the fullness should be only that which 

 the udder shows when the usual time has arrived for 

 milking. When an udder is unduly distended because 

 of deferred milking, its glandular quality cannot be 

 determined because of the distention. The proper deter- 

 mination of such quality of the udder more than its size 

 is linked with high milk-giving capacity. 



The management of these types of cattle in 

 transit to fairs is much the same as that given to cattle 

 of the fat classes. (See page 323.) The temporary 

 reduction in food will result in a temporary reduction in 

 milk, but soon the equilibrium will be approximately 

 regained when on the fair grounds, although it may not 

 be entirely regained, because of the influence of the 

 strange surroundings on the production of a nervous 

 cow. The aim should be to feed practically the same 

 food at the fair as was fed at home. 



In contests at exhibitions which relate to the produc- 

 tion of milk or butter, the time that the cows have been 

 in lactation is greatly important. It is also important 

 that the cows shall be on the ground some time before 

 the contest begins. This is necessary that they may 

 become accustomed to their surroundings, and that they 

 may have time to regain the producing capacity tem- 

 porarily lowered while in transit. Because of the dis- 

 turbing factors which accompany such contests when 

 conducted at fairs, many have grave doubts as to their 

 utility. 



Miscellaneous observations. — When growing and 

 fitting cattle that are to appear in the show ring, no 

 attention that may prove helpful in this work is so 



