DAIRY TYPE OF CATTLE 321 



The hind part, located between widespreading thighs, should 

 show much elasticity, with folds of skin apparent in the empty 

 udder, especially with mature cows. Over the entire udder a 

 mellow, soft skin and fine coat of hair should be found. Com- 

 mon defects of the udder are small, poor fronts, with the teats 

 on this part elevated much above or close to the hind ones ; 

 small teats, especially with some breeds; meaty udders, which 

 reduce but little with milking and yield a comparatively small 

 flow ; and last, but not least, small udders entirely lacking in profit- 

 producing capacity. Large cows should have larger udders than 

 small cows, but an animal of from 900 to 1000 pounds weight, 

 at six years old, in full flow of milk, should have an udder of 

 comparatively large size, such as will yield at least 40 pounds a 

 day. However, this standard does not apply to the larger, heavier 

 milking breeds, which should do better than this. 



The milk veins, which convey blood through the udder, are 

 usually regarded as indications of a cow's general capacity to 

 produce milk, although we have no actual facts bearing on this 

 point. In spite of this the prevailing opinion among dairy-cattle 

 critics is that the veins are in a measure indicators of producing 

 capacity. Young heifers have small veins, which with maturity 

 increase in prominence. On old cows they may be very tortuous, 

 extending from the udder forward with numerous turns along the 

 belly until they enter the wall of the belly through holes known as 

 " milk wells." These latter should show comparatively large size 

 on the application of the end of the finger at the orifice. Many 

 cows have three milk veins, two long ones on the outer part of the 

 belly and a short one between. In rare cases the veins branch into 

 numerous small ones along the belly just in front of the udder. 

 Small veins also occur on the udders of some cows. The length 

 of vein varies, usually extending -about halfway to the forelegs, 

 although cases occur of their extending to the leg itself, disap- 

 pearing behind the arm. The size of the vein varies much, the 

 larger ones having a diameter of about three fourths of an inch. 

 Small veins are found on the belly of the males, while miniature 

 teats, known as " rudimentaries," are found along in front of and 

 on each side of the scrotum, or purse, two usually occurring a short 



distance apart on a side. The length and size of the rudimentaries 

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