i9o6.] Selection and Milking of Dairy Cattle. 451 



Island cows will help to raise the general quality of the milk 

 and to maintain the required amount of fat. 



Points of Dairy Cattle, — The special points to be considered 

 in the purchase and judging of dairy cattle are : — (i) Tempera- 

 ment of the animal ; (2) shape of the udder ; (3) general 

 appearance denoting milking qualities ; (4) indications regarding 

 quantity of milk yielded ; (5) points indicating constitution and 

 quality of milk yielded. In examining dairy cows, all the points 

 which past experience has taught are indicative of milking 

 strain must be taken into consideration. 



1. Temperament. — The cow should be quiet when handled, 

 possess a clean coat, a long neck, with eyes prominent and wide 

 apart, the whole expression showing a gentle and phlegmatic 

 temperament. 



2. Shape of Udder. — The udder or bag should extend well 

 forward, whilst the fore teat in some cows will be found in 

 a vertical line with the hip bone. The udder should be full and 

 come up well behind under the tail, the whole vessel showing great 

 capacity, each quarter being sound and the teats easy to draw. 

 The teats should be equidistant apart, squarely set on, and of a 

 useful size for milking. 



3. General Appearance denoting Milk. — A first-class dairy 

 cow is somewhat wedge shaped when viewed from the side ; the 

 neck should be thin and longer than in a feeding beast, whilst 

 the shoulders should be light and oblique. The abdomen 

 should be capacious, the flank clean and thin, being lean 

 rather than fat. The back of a heavy milking cow is usually 

 thin, a good back showing strong spinal processes. When 

 viewed from above the animal should also appear wedge shaped, 

 being narrow on the shoulder blades, the lines spreading out to 

 the hips, which must be wide apart. Incurving thighs allow 

 plenty of space for the development of the udder. A well-set, 

 long, and tapering tail, with plenty of switch is desirable. 

 Action and bone are points not to be overlooked ; the shanks 

 should be clean, and the animal when walking have freedom 

 from a sweeping movement. If the cow is one of the Channel 

 Island breed, the hoof should be small and of bright colour. 



4. Indications regarding Quantity of Milk Yielded. — Milk 

 veins should be large, prominent, and branched, and the milk 



002 



