210 LIVE-STOCK JUDGING 



texture. Quality implies a fine texture of udder just as 

 much as of hide, hair and bone. 



Quality in the dairy cow is indicated by a hide of 

 medium thickness, loose, pHable and unctuous, covered 

 with a medium coat of fine, straight, lustrous hair; a 

 high grade of bone, noted in a fine head, smooth shoulders, 

 hooks, pins and tail head and sharply defined joints ; 

 horn of medium size, and dense, smooth texture. Coarse- 

 ness is especially indicated in the parts enumerated and 

 in a general absence of refinement. 



226. Substance, as indicated by size rather than by 

 bone, is important, it having been demonstrated that the 

 larger cow produces more economically than the smaller 

 one. 



227. Constitution. — The consumption and utilization 

 of the nutrients required for the production of 25,000 

 pounds of milk or 1000 pounds of butter annually, in- 

 volves the activity of the functions of digestion, respira- 

 tion, circulation and lactation to their utmost capacity, 

 and none but cows of the strongest constitutional vigor 

 are capable of such performance. Constitution is indi- 

 cated by a full chest, a deep flank, a large nostril, a 

 bright eye, a sleek coat and general evidence of thrift 

 and vigor. 



228. Condition of the dairy cow in milk is best ex- 

 pressed by the term " spare." Thin is suggestive of 

 emaciation while a working dairy cow is in the best of 

 health and thrift. Spare means without surplus, and that 

 is most descriptive of ideal dairy cow condition when she 

 is retaining from the ration sufficient nutrients for her 

 maintenance only, utihzing all the balance for production. 

 Lean is also expressive of the dairy condition, as it implies 

 the absence of fat or beef. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



