FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 177 



Facial Expression. 



The countenance of each and every dairy animal, as 

 with the human countenance, expresses or reflects in a de- 

 gree the character of the individual. In judging cattle the 

 females should radiate from their facial expression a gen- 

 uinely feminine appearance. Few calves, indeed, ever de- 

 velop into high producers that possess a masculine or 

 "staggy" appearance. Conversely, the males should reflect 

 masculinity, their every feature expressing the fact that 

 they are the masters of the species. 



The Neck. 



The neck is a guide in judging the coarseness of an 

 animal. If a dairy cow has a heavy, bull-like neck it means 

 that she is not truly feminine and that a portion of the feed 

 she consumes is being directed by her from her milk produc- 

 ing organs to the maintenance of useless, unnecessary phy- 

 sical structure. The true dairy calf has a light delicately 

 constructed neck, a large windpipe, and a small silky dew- 

 lap. Bulls on the other hand, should express their power 

 and prepotency by possessing a heavy neck and crest, this, 

 of course, developing as the age of the individual increases. 



The Fore Quarters. 



The fore quarters of the dairy animal include the with- 

 ers, shoulders, fore legs and brisket. 



The Withers. 



The withers are made up of the two shoulder blades 

 and the spine, or back-bone. If the spine extends above 

 the level of the shoulder blades and they fit snugly down 

 against the spine it produces a sharp, wedge-shaped forma- 

 tion of the withers desirable in dairy form. If the spine sets 

 below the two shoulder blades the result is known as an 

 open shoulder. Usually these three parts of the shoulder 

 are almost level on the top and when so arranged there is 

 danger of producing coarse, broad, beef-like withers, in- 

 compatible with dairy conformation. 



