The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-02-18
Ayrshire Points.
ny DR.. sTURTEVANT.
Continued

The reproductive functions require
hook bones of good size, and a broad pei
Wis is desirable, as underlying within are
the gencrative organs.
Thus the necessities Of the body Of a
large milking COW require the wedge
shape, and this not ouly from the flank,
but also when viewed from above. At
this stage, let Us sum up the points Of an
Ayrshire cow, as given for the body by
the Ayrshire Agricultural Association
ard the New York State Agricultural So
ciety.
The whole forequarters thin in trout,
and gradually increasing in depth and
width backward, yet Of sufficient breadth
and roundness to insure constitution.
Back should tic straight and thc loins
wide, and the hips rather high end well
spread,
Pelvis roomy, long broad and straight,
hook bones wide apart. Quarters long,
toerably muscular, and full in their up
per portion, but moulding into the thighs
below, which should have a degree OF
fatness, thus affording more space fox 4
full uddcr. The TANKS well let down but
not heavy.
Ribs, behind, springiog out very round
and full, atfording space for large udder
the whole carcase thus acquiring in
creased volume toward its postcrior por-
ton.
We see that the points as given are
those of utility and that at this stage the
udder points and body points are CORE
lated.
In connection with the body and the
udder, the skin is Of great value in as
sisting our judgment. Between that por-
ton of the external covering used for
leather, and the muscle, there occurs a
layer Of cellular tissue, which contains a
larger or smaller amount OF fat cells, and
the mellow handling caused by these cells
indicates a free circulation throughout
this meshwork. The skin varies from a
thin, papery hide, covered with silky hair,
to thick, supple, elastic hide, well coat.
ed with hair, On the one hand, and a sim
liar variation, with harsh hair and coarse
ness, on the other. The thin, papery
hide indicates quick fattening and deli
cate constitution the thick, elastic hide
cushioned on fat, and which on the flank
comes into the hand almost without grasp
ing, indicates the height of vigor, accom-
panied by the tattening tendency, and the
possessor Of this handling endures climate
changes, low quality in his food, and neg.
lr,)l 4
quickly responds to fall feed and good
care The harsh handler is q dull feed.
er, consumes much food, and generally
contains more than just proportion OF
offal or waste. In the Ayrshire COW we
desire neither Of these extremes, for it is
in the milk product that we wish the food
to be utilized, and i; is almost an un.
changing law Of nature, that deficiency il
one direction must be compensated foI
by excess in another direction, and rice
rrSa. At any rate, the COW that lays
on fat too quickly, is seldom frst.class
mixer, and how well known is it, that
the COW of large yield miks down her
condition. A COW that has moderately
thin, loose skin, ofsuilicient elasticity and
suppleness of touch, without being fat.
cushioned, as it were, with hair soft and
NOISY, or woolly,if Of correct form other
wise, will usually milk large quantity
and when she becomes dry, will rapidly
come into condition. Ia truth, tho hand
ling Of the Ayrshire COW must be good
it cannot be too good; but it must not be
of exactly that quality sought for in the
grazing breeds.
There. as everywhere. the dairymar
must keep to his line; milk, not fat, i;
his profit; and in seeking excess of both,
he will be liable to fall below the aver,
age of either.
1t is m axiom of breeders to dmiuisl
the useless parts Of an animal as much
as possible, or in other words, to reduced
the proportion of those parts not conduc.
tive to profit, to as great extent as posi-
BILE. Applying this rule to dairy breed
we should desire small neck, sharp
shoulders, small brisket and small bone.
Moreover, small bone usually accompanies
rift,and is universally found ia improy-