The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-30
Dairy Notes,

Guenon, in his treatise on mich
COWS, says the World, affirms that
with a thorough knowledge of his
method set forth in said treatise any
one can distinguish with absolute
certainty, during all periods of the
animals life, the COW which will give
the most milk and continue it the
longest after another pregnancy has
begun. The quality of the milk, its
capacity for butter making, etc., can
also be predicted.
The distinctive signs On which the
Guenon method is foun led are call
ed escutcheons and feathers. These
exist on every animal of the bovine
species. They are situated on the
hinder part OF the animal and distin-
guish, according to the authority
under consideration, the GLASSES or
families, which differ from each
other in the form of the escutcheon.
After many years research Guen-
OH decided that there are ten princi-
pal forms of escuicheons, each of
which can be readily distinguished
from the others. The surface of the
escutcheon is distinguished by lis
upward growing hair, which takes
direction opposite to that which
covers the other part of the skin.
The hair of the escutcheon is also
distinguished by it's tint, which
is duller than that of the 9TH
er hair. The escutcheon starts
from the middle of the four teats,
a part of its hair extending forward
under the belly, in the direction OF
the naval, while the other part, be-
ginning a little above the houghs,
spreads as far as the middle of the
hinder surface of the thighs, ascend
ing on the udder. and in some classes
running up as high as the vulva.
According to the Guenon system
the form or pattern of the escutcheon
indicates the class to which the ami
NAL belongs, while the extent of
surface covered by it de-
notes the milk-giving ca
pacity. This extent, varying
in a decreasing proposition, gives
rise to several orders in which are
ranged the members of each class.
The ineness of the hair of the
escutcheon and the color of its skin
indicate the quantity and quality of
the milk.
ain all classes and ORDERS" says
Guenon, "the escutcheon is the sole
indicator of the internal capacity OF
the udder, SO that if the escutcheon
is large, the interior reservoir is
large and the yield of milk will be
abundant; while if the escutcheon
be small, the reservoir is small
and the yield of milk will
be small. Hence those cows which
have large escutcheon, composed
of fine hair, are the best mixers, es-
pecislly if the skin from the inner
| Joining of the thighs to the udder is
of a yeliowish color and if on
scratching it with the nail are de-
tached little scales of a fatty SUBJ
stance. Those animals in which this
latter character is found in the SKIN
of the switch and of the inside OF the
ear. weld a milk very rich in butter,
whatever be the class or order to
which they belong"
Guenon further claims that cows
winch have the skin of the escutche-
on sleek. white and covered with
long. sparse hair, will give a thin
Serious milk, while those whose udder
rs covered with an escutcheon OF
short furry hair will give good rich
milk. The indications OF the escut-
cheon as here given are liable to GER
tain notifications, but they serve 10
give a general idea of the signs on
which the Guenon method Is
founded.