The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-01-04
The,Escutcbcon ofMiIch Cows.

The'Escutchcon of Mich Cows.
Tho subject of the cscutchion or
"milk-mirror," as n test of the quality
of the mich COW, is just now receiving
much attention. Mr.. l.. :. Hardin has
attacked Guenon's theory in really
savage way, and he has aroused quite a
storm of correspondence, which is pre-
ponderatingly in its favor. 1t has been
suggested that we do not need to adopt
all the minutin of the theory, for we do
not care anything about the compare
| tive tests of third and fourth rate cows.
| The only ones we want are those of the
first class, and ii is avery simple matter
to learn enough, to be able TO see at a
glance ifany given escutchcon is first
class or not. We shall act wisely, as a
rule, five let all except the first-class
ones go. We maymakc occasional mis-
takes. There may be some very good
cows with very bad cscutchcons, but
think the forty years experience of the
best dairymcn of the world, has cstab-
lishcd the fact, that there is much more
in the Guenon theory than in any
other outward indication of quality.
| believe that those who have made it q
fixed rule ofaction, to own 10 COW and
to raise no heifer, which has not first
class escutcheon, have to-day the best
milking herds.
1t may even be doubted, whether it is
essential TO good success, that we
should give our attention TO so much
detail as is needed to determine even
to which class COW belongs, for the
fundamental principle seems to be, that
the quantity of milk, and the continu-
ence of the flow, after the COW gets
with calf, is chiefly indicated by the
area of the cscutchcon, whatever may
be its shape; that is to say, that the
amount of surface covered by hair
growing in direction that leads away
from the tcats, indicates the extent of
that system of blood vessels or secreting
organs which act in the conversion Of
blood into milk. Practically, it seems
not to make very great difference,
whether the surface so covered (thc
escutcheon) extends up to q good
width and on both sides of the vulva, or
wheth CT it reaches out far on the thigh
Mr.. Charles L. Sharpless, of Philadel-
phia, has advanced the suggestion, that
the surface covered by a reverse
growth ofhair in front of the udder-
out on the belly-is as important as
that which shows from behind. With
this idea in mind, we may safely be guild
ed in judging of the comparative value of
two cows, by the relative amount of
space SO covered, whether such cover
ing indicates any different conforma-
ton of the underlying vessels or not.
When the purpose is not to compare
two cows with each other, but to de-
eide the individual merit of a single
COW, then should say that we should
seek the fullest possible devel-
opment of the escutcheon-one
which runs up of good witdh, en-
closing the vulva, which runs out well
on to the thighs, and which reaches
well forward on to the belly.
Gucnon refers to certain "bastard"
marks, which are of different character
in the different "orders," and which. it
seems to me, require more study
than any one is likely to give, who is
not cndeavoring to make himself an
expert in the matter. In my own case,
and so far as | know in the case of
friends who adhere to the system, not
much attention. is paid to these marks.
1t is quite likely that we should, all of
us, find our account in studying this
part of the system more infinitely; bnt
it seems the most desirable thing about
the whole matter, that the people at
large should attend to the leading idea,
and regulate their breeding, and their
buying and selling, according to lis
broader teachings. To this end, |
should say simply: Learn in the first
place the difference in appearance be-
tween the cscutchcon and the parts sur
rounding it; ascertain the standard of
the largest escutcheon of the breed Of
cattle in which you are interested, and
then try TO secure stable full of ami
nal, approaching as nearly as possible
to this standard"
1t is one of the most important things
in connection with this subject, that the
escutcheon is well defined, even in the
fuzzy coat of the new born calf, and
that so far as this indication is relied
on, we may at once determine whether
the calf is to be kept or killed. In the
calf, the upper part of the escutcheon
shows for its full value, but it does not
spread to its full width over the thighs,
until, as maturity approaches, the fill
ling of the uddcr, and the development
of that part of the body, spread it out.
BY turning the calf on its back, we
may readily see the extent of the
escutchcon toward the navel and the
TANKS. We may also Judge of the size,
position, and uniformity of the tcats-a
very important indication.