FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 173 



JUDGING THE DAIRY CALF 



R. E. Caldwell. 



Unfortunately it is necessary to appraise the value of 

 the larger percentage of our dairy stock from the stand- 

 point of their possible usefulness through points of physical 

 conformation rather than by means of actual production 

 records. Not that it would be possible to rely entirely upon 

 productive ability if such was universally available, but 

 such information in combination with a proper physical 

 make-up is a much more reliable guide in selecting breeding 

 stock than is either of these two characteristics when judged 

 individually. 



In selecting a dairy calf the dairyman has only two 

 types of recommendations to guide him, viz., the produc- 

 tive ability of its parents, and its physical form. Therefore, 

 in selecting calves for the purpose of growing them into ma- 

 ture producing cows it is important that great care be exer- 

 cised in analyzing these two avenues of information. Milk 

 and butterfat records, when available and of authentic type, 

 may be quite easily interpreted. Not so with regard to a 

 study of physical design as it is reflected in the dairy form. 

 Such knowledge is merely of a speculative character at 

 best, although through the correlation of points found in 

 high and in low producers the science of judging has been 

 evolved, and a mastery of this science means much to the 

 dairyman who would be a success as a breeder. The fol- 

 lowing discussion is limited to a study of the science of 

 judging as it applies to the dairy calf. 



Breed Characteristics. 



Each of the dairy breeds of cattle differs markedly 

 from the others in general appearance, although when ob- 

 served in detail a surprising similarity of form is always 

 evident. Each of the breed associations has established a 



