The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-02-10
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Selecting Dairy stock.

There are certain external indications
of the capacity for producing milk,
which are as apparent from an inspec-
ton of the cow, as are the signs OF
strength and speed in the horse. In old
dairy districts, where the owners are in
the habit of filling up their herd annual
ly by purchase, they soon become so
expert as seldom to be deceived
Milk is female product, and its pro-
duction may reasonably be expected to
be more or less affected, if the Organi
cation, varies much from the character
istics peculiar to the SEX First of all,
see that the animal has feminine APP
pearance-a cowv look The next thing
to be looked after is the digestive ap-
paratus, particularly the bowels and
stomach. A large and strong boiler is
not more essential to the power of the
engine, than large and vigorous stOm-
ach is to the production of milk. A
COW cannot make milk out of nothing.
If she gives large flow, she must eat
and digest large amount of food to
make it from, and she must have stom-
ach equal to the task one that has ca
pacitv to hold and power to digest
enough to manufacture the milk out of.
When the digestive organs are rela-
lively larger than the other viscera, they
give depth and breadth to the abdomen,
and somewhat wedge-sharped form,
the body tapering forward.
The large stomach and bowels here
indicated mark diathesis in which the
fluids abound-a condition, as will read
ilv be understood, very essential to
large flow of milk broad hips, and depth
and breadth of the lumbar region, indi-
cate large development and flow of
blood, and vital influence to all the parts
surrounding and connecting with the
milk-producing vessels. Gaunt cows
are small mixers.
A good constitution is important
This may be judged of by the lustre of
the hair and the brlliancy of the eyes
and horns. Constitution depends mostly
upon the heart and lungs, the size of
which may be determined by the depth
and breadth of the thorax. They should
have a good development, enough to
secure health and vigor, but the lungs,
in particular, should not be excessively
large When very large, they burn up,
by increased respiration, the fat-forrning
material. BY the extraordinary energy
they create, they induce unusual eXer-
else and motion, which make a rapid
waste of tissue and rapid assimilation
to repair it, and thus divert nutrment
from producing milk If too small, the
animal may be an excellent mixer while
she lives, but will be feeble and short
lived.
The capacity of the lungs corresponds
with the size of the apertures. through
which they are filled. Large nostrils
indicate large lungs, and VICE VERSA
In the same way, the indications of the
mouth correspond with the size of the
stomach.
The chin is regarded as an index to
milking capacity. When it is double.
it denotes breadth of vertebra, which
corresponds to the broad open structure
which is favorable to large flow.
1t is an accompaniment of broad hips.
and these in turn denote large cavity,
which is essential to good mixers.
The milk mirror, or escutCheon of
Guenon, is one Of the leading indications
of milking capacity. 1t consists of the
peculiar appearance of the hair on the
udder.
Looking at the hind part of the COW,
more or less Of the hair which covers
the udder and adjacent parts, will be
seen to turn upward or outward -
This reversed hair forms the so-called
escutcheon. If the space occupied by
the upturned hair, especially the lower
part of it, is very large and broad, so
that it extends far outward on the thighs.
it is regarded as indicating large flow
of milk. If the reversed part of it is
narrow and irregular in its upper part,
it is unfavorable to prolonged flow.
The manner in which the inverted hair
connects with the hair adjacent, is sup
posed to have significance. A gradual
blending, rather than abrupt connection,
is preferred.
The connection of the escutcheon
Cor scutcheon) with the flow Of milk, is
accounted for by Magne, who says that
the hair turns in the direction in which
the arteries ramify, and that the reversed
hair on the udder and adjacent parts
indicates the termination of the arteries
which supply the udder with blood.
When these arteries are large. they are
not confined to the udder but extend
down through it, and upward and out
ward, ramifying on the skin beyond the
udder, giving the hair the peculiar APP
pearance which distinguishes it from
the rest of the surface If the arteries
supplying the udder with blood are
very small, they are not likely to OK
tend much beyond the udder and hence
form a small escutcheon. Hence,
small escutcheon indicates feeble sup
ply of blood to the udder. and consc-
quently but little material to make milk
out of, and hence a small flow of milk
irno13fe 1,,,or D,jr