Selecting Milk Cows. 79 



sometimes much hidden, corresponding in size with the 

 Yield Mark, which latter is now known to indicate the 

 maximum yield in nine-tenths of all milk cows. 



A light head, horns, tail, and legs are suitable on sma/i 

 animals. But the size of the head should be well propor- 

 tioned to the size of the body, to give good breathing 

 channels through the head-bones. While size of the legs 

 should be equally well proportioned to the weight and 

 pressure of the body they sustain ; a well-proportioned size 

 of bone escaping injury from vertical pressure, so prevent- 

 ing injury and pain to the cow or other animal, which is 

 according to reason, proportion of parts, and mechanical 

 rules of necessary proportion. 



The "handling qualities" of cattle are said to be good 

 when the skin is moderately thick, and the flesh, with 

 tissue containing some serai-liquid fat underneath, is mel- 

 low and yielding to the touch, springing back after pres- 

 sure when the fingers are removed; and so with the skin 

 itself, when taken up between the fingers and thumb ; in 

 good handlers it quickly springs back or contracts to its 

 natural position. An elastic skin and mellow touch indi- 

 cate a vigorous flow of blood, which pushes the capillary 

 circulation, keeping the skin mellow and supple with 

 a full circulation of good blood, and somewhat oily by the 

 natural exudation through the skin pores. Oil or grease 

 turns yellow when exposed to the air; hence yellow-skinned 

 cattle have evidently more oil in their skins, and handle 

 better than pale-skinned animals. 



The weight of the abdomen, and a large udder, or both 

 together, draws the skin down till it fits close over certain 

 projecting bones, as the buttock bones and the hip-bone 

 knobs ; and if the skin be mellow and easily movable over 

 these bones, as in good handlers, the skin is sure to be 

 mellow and movable, where there is less weight to draw it 

 downward, and less strain to test its elasticity. But if the 



