2IO 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



In all the females of the bovine race the milk 

 is separated by glands. It is composed of a 

 white, opaque substance in which small glob- 

 ules of fat are floating. The two chief glands 



French Sthkr 



form the udder, and for the cattle breeder much 

 depends on the position of the teats, and also 

 on the roundness and volume of the udder, for 

 milch cows that are otherwise equal in conform- 

 ation and in appearance will show great differ- 

 ences in their production of milk. There are 

 some first-class cows that can give as much as 

 twenty-four quarts of milk a day. Others give 

 twenty, ten, and even less, although they are 

 normal in shape, healthy in body, and in proper 

 dairy cf)ndition. 



The first milk drawn, which is for the calf, 

 is clear and yellow. It is useful in clearing 

 from the stomach of the little animal various 

 substances that are in him when he enters the 

 world. The greatest production of milk is 

 made when the cow is from five to ten years 

 old, but it is a mistake to think that the milk 

 of a cow which produces much is the best. 

 Those furnishing a medium quantity daily may 

 give richer milk ; that of some cows, however, 

 is always poor. The quantity of the milk 

 naturally dej^ends much on food and on the 

 condition of the pasturage, while the quality 



is hereditary like color or form or breed. This 

 explains why the cattle of meadow and grass 

 lands are so celebrated, and why the industries 

 of butter and cheese making flourish in those 

 regions. 



An examination of the ex- 

 terior of the bovine race shows 

 that it exhibits a vast variety 

 of color. Black, yellow, brown, 

 reddish brown, black-spotted, 

 and white cows give to a land- 

 scape full of cattle a rich and 

 varied character. Color has 

 become a fixed character in 

 many breeds; as, for instance, 

 the black and white of the Hol- 

 stein, the black of the Angus 

 and the Galloway, the red and 

 white of the Ayrshire and the 

 Hereford, the fawn and brown 

 of the Jersey, and the yellow 

 and brown of the Guernsey. 



Many cattle raisers prefer 

 to have animals all of one color 

 rather than of many colors and of many breeds. 

 It is only by following fixed lines of breeding 

 that the greatest success will be attained. To 

 do this is neither difficult nor expensive, and 

 is far more satisfactory than a practice of in- 

 discriminate breeding, which is so common 

 throughout the land. 



Cows, as well as bulls and oxen, usually have 

 two hollow horns on their head, which form 



In ALABAjrA 



their weapons of offense. The horns of certain 

 breeds are strongly developed and very long ; 

 others are without horns, and butt with their 



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