Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-19


The wedge-shaped COW is frequently recon-
mended as the best for milk, and, If mere
bulk of milk be the object, this form is adapt
ed to large yield. Wedge-shaped COWS may
be good cheese cows but, as this is not well
balanced form, the COWS are likely to be in
active and the quality of their milk thin.
Cows that are wedge-shaped have, as n rule,
according to the law of compensation, lost as
much size in their fore-quarters rs they have
gained in their headquarters hence, while
large headquarters provide for large supply
of blood in the vicinity of the udder, the ac-
companying small fore quarters indicate re-
duced digestive power and less bodily vigor
activity and endurance. STILL the wedge
shaped COW is suitable for cheese or bulk of
milk
The COW for butter need not have large
headquarters, as the quantity of butter de-
ponds upon the quality of milk rather than
its quantity For butter, however, in cows
of any form, breed or size, the COW should be
good-natured, and have a mellow and rather
oily skim with fine, soft hair and gentleness
of disposition-the latter being indicated by
a pleasant countenance, of mild expression,
the expression of the eyes being mild, as
leading feature.
For general domestic or family use, we
would not choose u narrow-formed, long-faced
COW, as such are not usually good-tempered,
while they are frequently fat-sided, with weak
muscles and loose Joints, with little yigor not
being economical to keep. The form of COW
or steer, for vigor thrift and economical keep
ing is wide, open-faced, round-bodied, low
standing animal. The wide face should be
set of by ful-szed brightish eyes, indicating
easy training. And the form of the body
usually corresponds with u wide face, the
thick-set roundish form being the most econ
omical in keeping up the temperature, while
affording the greatest extent of surface for
meat cuts. At the same time, thick.set,
round-bodied COWS are more muscular and
active and vigorous than deep, hat-sided or
wedge-shaped cows Of equal weight or size,
whatever their breed may be.
dragging gait in any form or breed of
COW, indicates weak muscles and loose joints,
while strong muscles and active vigor are
certainly necessary to admit of good digestive
power for without strong digestive ability
no cow-or steer-can be thrifty or easy to
keep Two very essential points in a COW are,
therefore, an easy, housekeeping gait and Il
large barrel or body
Undoubtedly gentle and kind treatment has
much influence in establishing good temper
the opposite treatment causing bad temper /;
but, whatever its origin, it is of the first i'm
| portance that a cow-or steer--have, as a
most important indication of character, Il
| pleushut, COuIOIthDIe expression OF COuule-
nance, the pleasant expression indicating good
temper, while the comfortable phase of ex-
preston indicates thrifty habit of body and
strong digestive power, showing that such a
COW will pay well for the keeping"
Ii any particular breed or family Of cows
has long been trained to the pail, such train
ing should have developed milk yielding ca
pacity to a considerable extent, and probably
in quantity, according to size, as a rule but
beyond adaptation in growth, which comes
from training, breed per se has no particular
influence on the capacity TO yield milk.
III selecting cows for milking the free, easy
step the pleasant and comfortable expression
of countenance, and the round, capaciou,
form of body are far more important thar
the line Of descent or family history.
In choosing q COW or heifer, the yield mark
which is formed by the yield ITSELF indicates
an extent of yield according to the size of the
mark without regard to any particular form
OF this index of yield; the udder, though
sometimes much hidden, corresponding il
size with the yield mark, which latter is now
known to indicate the maximum yield in nine
tenths of all mich cows Cattle Problem,
Explained