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HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD MILCH COW. 
are large, and lodged in a spacious cavity ; in other words, 
when the chest is wide, deep, and prominent — when the ribs 
are long, and strongly arched throughout their whole length, 
and more especially at the upper extremity — when the withers 
are thick, and the brisket rounded behind the shoulder and 
elbow — when the spine is long, straight, horizontal, not saddle- 
backed, and the loins are wide — when the nostrils are large, 
dilated, and well opened — when the air is enhaled without 
any appearance of hurry, and exhaled from the chest in 
great puffs. 
The movements of the flanks are free, easy, and extensive, 
in beasts which breathe well. 
These properties of the digestive and respiratory organs 
indicate that digestion and respiration, being well performed, 
furnish an abundant and rich blood; all the organs being in 
a state of activity favourable for the exercise of their func- 
tions. Animals combining these properties in full vigour, 
are capable either of performing much work, or fattening 
rapidly, or giving much milk, according to the predominance 
either of the powers of motion, viz., the bones or muscles ; 
or of the nutritive system, viz., the cellular and adipose 
tissues ; or of the organs for providing milk, viz., the glands 
giving milky secretions, and the milk vessels. 
SHAPE, CONSTITUTION, FEATURES, TEMPERAMENT, 
COLOUR. 
1 . Shape — Active mammary glands are seldom found united 
with the graceful, rounded forms which constitute what is 
vulgarly called beauty in quadrupeds. Most frequently good 
milkers have sharp points, and appear more or less loose and 
flabby. In regard to bony structure, they may be as well 
formed as cows remarkable for their readiness to fatten, or 
ability to work ; but, being seldom in plump condition, they 
seem lean and raw-boned. 
Hence, when a herd of cows have all been fed and kept in 
the same way, it would not be proper to fix upon the most 
beautiful as the best milkers. In so doing, we should be 
almost invariably mistaken. In the hind quarters, there is 
often something defective in regard to form : they are largely 
developed, but the flesh is not in proportion to the bone, and 
the bony protuberances are very visible ; the haunches stick 
out, and the pelvis is wide ; the legs, standing far apart, leave 
a considerable space as a receptacle for large milk vessels. 
The blood flows in great abundance to the milky glands, 
and keeps them in activity at the expense of the other organs ; 
