186 



MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



Fig. 65. — .Ieesey Cow "Torment- 

 or's La.ss." Owned by Hood 

 Farm, Lowell, Mass. Dairy type. 



The dairy type. — When we reflect upon the purpose for 

 which dairy cows are kept, the type becomes apparent. They 



are useful for the millc they can 

 secrete, and not for the flesh of 

 their bodies; and as the food 

 should go to produce milk and 

 not fat, therefore the body will 

 be spare and not fleshy. The 

 secretion of milk takes place in 

 the udder and allied organs; 

 therefore, the rear development 

 will be large. Furthermore, we 

 cannot have large production 

 without a large factory ; thus a 

 large secretion of milk calls for a large digestive tract, which 

 adds to the rear development (Fig. 65). 



In general appearance, the form of the dairy cow resembles 

 that of a triple- wedge. Viewed from the side, she shows greater 

 depth of body behind than in front. Viewed from the rear and 

 top, she gradually widens from 

 the chest to the hips. Viewed 

 from the front and top, she 

 gradually widens from the 

 withers backward and down- 

 ward to the abdomen. While 

 this is the desired form and 

 many superior cows possess it, 

 yet exceptions occur, and 

 many heavy milkers are not 

 associated with this form. 

 Fleshiness, however, is dis- 

 tinctly objectionable in the milking cow. 



The beef type. — In the beef type, the food goes to the pro- 

 duction of flesh ; hence a tendency to fatten is desired. The 



Fig. 66. — Angus Steer. Grand cham- 

 pion at the International Live Stock 

 Exposition, 1909. Beet type. 



