THE COW IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 51 



active worker and not a loafer, circulation means 

 that she must have a large and well developed 

 supply of blood flowing through the udder from 

 which the milk is secreted, and by ability we 

 mean the power the cow has of secreting milk. 

 While a cow might have any four of these char- 

 acteristics, she would not be an extra good cow 

 without the fifth. 



In selecting a cow it is always best to view the 

 cow from the side and from some little distance, 

 while she is standing with her side toward you 

 or while someone is leading her by you, as you 

 are able in this way to get a very good impres- 

 sion as to her constitution and capacity in this 

 way and do not forget that your first impres- 

 sion is usually the best. It is then well to walk 

 around the cow to the other side, as cows do not 

 always look the same from both sides, and then 

 to walk to the front where a good view of the 

 head, horns, eyes and the chest and barrel may 

 be seen and then step to the rear of the cow 

 where the udder and tail and width of the hips 

 may be seen. Then walk by the cow with one 

 hand traveling along the neck and back where 

 the condition as to fat may be observed, while 

 with the other hand the texture of the skin may 

 be determined by grasping it and pulling it out 

 from the body. Next milk the cow or have some- 

 one else do so and examine the udder carefully. 

 A soft pliable elastic skin indicates a good diges- 

 tive apparatus, while a dry harsh clinging hide 

 indicates poor digestion. 



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