The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-08-02
far1Mers' Column.
"Speed the PIOtU.o
How to Select a Mich Cow.
THE 6UENoN SYSTEM.

am asked to state the leading points of
the Guenon system of estimating the value
of cow.
Mons. Guenon was Frenchman living
in the vicinity of Bordeaux, who in 1928
first called the public attention to system
be had planned by which COW could be
judged as to the quality of milk she would
give, and the length of time she would
would be profitable to raise, or bull as a
agricultural societies ofFrance pronounced
his system infallible, and heaped honors
upon him. In 1916 his work was transla-
ted and published in the Farmers Library
and Journal Of agriculture, edited by j. s.
Skinner. Like all new discoveries it has
had its advocates and its critics.
Guenon by long observation became con-
WINGED there were certain indubitable
marks on the posteriors of neat cattle by
which he could definitely fix their value for
milk, butter, or fattening properties.-
These marks are the escutcheon, 30 called
because it is somewhat shield.shaped, and
the more it varies in correct outline, or
is blemished, the less is the value of its in
dications.
Let us 60 into the field and examine the
stock there. Here is q quiet cow, one of
the first indications of being a good ami
nal. Lift the tail to one side, and you see
extending from the vulva down the perrin
cum to the point where the udder is to be
seen, difference in the shade of color of
hair. This mark from here down extends
upon each thigh, including the udder. If
it is first class escutcheon you see this
mark is much of the shape of round-point-
cd shovel, or shield. Now this difference
in color is produced by up-growing hair,
while on the rest of the animal the hair
grows down. Feel the difference with
your hand. In a good animal this up
growing hair will be short, fine, and soft,
while the skin covered by it, that of the
udder, will be thin, oleaginous and soft,
like kid glove. And if the cow gives
good milk, this skin will have rich gold.
en- hue.
This escutcheon varies in shape, which
induced Guenon to divide it into eight
classes, to which he gave the names of
Flandrine, Sewage, Curvelins, Bicorn,
Demijohn, Square, Limousine and Horizon
tai. These shapes are either perfect, or
have irregularities in their outline, which
guided him in subdividing his arrange
ment and classification of them into eight
orders. The first class and the first order
being the most valuable, and the eighth
class and eighth order being the least val
liable. He found the first would give 20
quarts, and continue to give milk until
they are eight months gone with calf, or
really never go dry, unless dried off, and
the last would give but two quarts and go
dry upon being got with calf.
Now you can really see the value of
the system, for by a knowledge of it you
can tell just where to place your stock in
the intermediate grades. You can pick
out the best cow and avoid the worst you
can tell which calf to raise and which to
sell; which bull to raise and which to use;
which steer to buy for fattening and which
to refuse. And it is necessary that the far
mer should learn at least this much Of the
system. But the opponents of it will not
its value unless you can tell to u
quart what a cow will give, ignoring what
Guenon himself said that the climate, the
food, and the season will vary the yield
Willis p. Hazard, in Farm
Journal