176 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



should be small, flexible, thin almost to the point of being 

 transparent, and covered with a fine silky hair. If the ani- 

 mal is in the prime of health a waxy secretion should be 

 evident in the interior lower portion of the ear. This secre- 

 tion varies in color from a light amber to a dark butter 

 yellow. The color of the secretion may be used as an in- 

 dex as to the color of the fat in the milk the animal may 

 yield. 



The Forehead. 



The upper part of the face, or forehead, is as useful a 

 guide in judging quality as are the ears. Frequently 

 coarseness of the upper part of the head is the result of 

 delayed breeding or the feeding of a ration excessively 

 high in protein. However, this feature may be reduced 

 through dehorning, although, if the hair is permitted to 

 grow normally, it may be relied up^n as showing the degree 

 <)f natural refinement reflected by this part. Usually a 

 heavy upper head is correlated with a general lack of re- 

 finement in all other features of the body. 



The Horns. 



The horns of young cattle are of less value in judging 

 than are they with mature individuals. However, quality 

 is again expressed in their texture, size, and shape. In 

 each breed a certain horn design is preferred, and, accord- 

 ingly, due knowledge of this breed fancy is necessary in or- 

 der to pass fair judgment. 



General Facial Dimensions. 



A proper dimension of the face is, of course, essential 

 for breed conformity. Each breed has an established ideal 

 in this particular. For example, the Jersey should have a 

 short, broad, dished face, while the Holstein is permitted 

 to have a much longer, straight-cut countenance. These 

 requirements are only obtainable through continuous ob- 

 servation of show-ring animals and a study of refinement 

 and intelligence as displayed by large numbers of individ- 

 uals in each breed. 



