29152 (d) BODY: 25. Chest, deep, low, wide Ribs, broad, long, wide apart; large barrel. Loin, broad and strong.. Navel, large and firm.. Objections, narrow chest, close ribs, fleshy back or weak loin. (e) HINDQUARTERS: 40. Hips, wide apart, strong. Hump, long, wide, giving roomy pelvic arch. Tail, long, slim, fine switch.. Thighs, thin, spare, long.... Escutcheon, spreading over thighs; high and wide... Udder, long, flat under surface, attached high, full behind, Teats, large, evenly placed and of good form... Milk Veins, large, tortuous. Milk Wells, large and open. Legs, straight, far apart, shank fine.. Objections, narrow hips and rump, small escutcheon, deep or Total... In the first place it will be noticed that a good cow always has the same general form, known as the wedge shape. This form is the result of milking capacity rather than milking capacity being the result of form. In other words, the cow that milks well must necessarily take on the wedge form, but not all cows of this form are good milkers. There are occasional and not very rare exceptions in which cows have sprung from good dairy ancestry and inherited dairy forms without inheriting dairy capacity; consequently form is not infallible evidence of dairy excellence. It is, however, an almost unvarying accompaniment of dairy excellence, regardless of breed. This is true by reason of the fact that the demands on the highest type of dairy cow are such that development of udder, depth and capacity of barrel, width of pelvis and loin, and spring of hind ribs are a necessity. These are the maternal and milk forming organs, and their development and expansion is essential to the highest development of the milking function of the cow. The operation of this principle is plainly apparent in the representatives of breeds that are of entirely distinct type, such as the Jersey, Holstein and Shorthorn, as shown by the accompanying illustrations. This depth, expansion, and capacity of the vital dairy organs, together with a good udder and milk veins, and a maximum digestive capacity, are the prime essentials of a good dairy cow. They indicate the two principal factors that are of greater significance in determining dairy merit than all others together; first, that the cow is capable of converting her feed into milk, and second, that she is capable of making good use of a large quantity of feed. These are the points upon which practical utility and SHORTHORN COW. BELLE OF SQUAW CREEK, VOL. 36. Milk record, 77-day test, 3.4 pounds per day. Milk test, 77-day period, 3.71 per cent. Butter record, 77-day test, 1.35 pounds per day, JERSEY COW. NICOLETTE, No. 65992, Milk record, 77-day test, 18 pounds per day. Milk test, 77-day period, 6.93 per cent. Butter record, 77-day test, 1.46 pounds per day. profit turn. I have enumerated a number of other characteristics in the score card presented, all of which are deserving of more or less attention, but they are merely contributory to the same ultimate end, viz. that of the highest practical return for a generous ration. For instance, I regard a thin spare thigh, as of vital importance, but this is only a necessary accompaniment of a good udder, for it is impossible to have a good development of udder with a full, round meaty thigh. The one precludes the other. As a further indication I like to see a richly colored mellow skin, a clear, prominent eye, a thin neck, a clean head, lean shoulders, prominent spinal column, and strong nervous organization, together with good respiratory and circulatory organs and other minor marks of dairy capacity, but these are all subordinate to the tangible and practical evidence furnished in the first named qualifications. The Shorthorn illustration represents a cow that combines beef and dairy qualities in a profitable degree. I prefer to use the term combination cow. General purpose is too vague and misleading. By combination I mean just two things-beef and milk. I do not claim that it is possible to obtain the highest degree of excellence of each in the same animal, but it is possible and prrcticable under given conditions to obtain a profitable degree of excellence in both. I want also to state that I regard it more difficult to breed and maintain a herd of this character than one of the special breeds. It will require closer study and attention, and a higher degree of skill. One reason for this is that comparatively few herds have been intelligently and systematically developed for the combination purpose, and the combination traits are not yet well established. This cow was one of eight taken from the college herd for an experiment, the object of which was not to test the capacity of the cows but to test the relative value of different feeds, particularly roots. She was put into a seventy-seven day test, January 1, 1895, having been in milk since November 7th previous. During this seventy-seven day period, her average daily yield of milk was 31.4 pounds, containing 3.71 per cent of butter fat. This is equivalent to 1.16 pounds of butter fat, or 1.35 pounds of butter per day for seventy-seven days, under conditions, owing to the nature of the experiment, that were not altogether favorable. In this test there were two Shorthorns, two Jerseys, and four Holsteins. The Jerseys made butter at a cost of 10 4 cents per pound for feed consumed; the Shorthorns at 12.7 cents, and the Holsteins at 12.9 cents. All feeds were charged at the high prices prevailing in 1895. During this test, however, the Shorthorns gained forty-five pounds each, and the Holsteins forty-one pounds each, while the Jerseys just held their own. All were fed the same kind of a ration. The Holsteins were a little farther advanced in their period of lactation than either of the other breeds. A more nitrogenous and succulent ration for the Holsteins and Shorthorns would doubtless have made more milk and less gain. More care is necessary in feeding a combination animal for milk than one of a special purpose, as the former has more of an inherited tendency toward flesh, and when milk is wanted it is necessary to feed for milk. One reason why many cows of the combination type never milk profitably is that they are never fed properly for milk. The Holsteins averaged 1.25 pounds of butter per day, and the Jerseys and Shorthorns 1.26 pounds per day. The yield was practically the same in all cases; the difference in cost was due to the varying amounts of feed consumed. |