Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-18
The GuenOn System,

Guenon's system was based upon the
alleged discovery that on the posteriors
of the bovine race, reaching from the
yulva and extending down over the I'D
der and on the inside Of the thighs, a
portion of the hair grew upward and
was easily distinguished from the sur
rounding hair, growing downward. In
80 doing, the upward hair takes different
shapes, which he calls cscutcheons. The
size and shape of these indicate the guam
tity of milk the COW will give and the
length of time she will continue TO milk
after calving. This latter was also af-
fccted by certain tufts of coarse hair or
blemishes on the escutchcon.
Then he noticed the character of the
hair growing upon the escutcheon, the
color of the skin under it, and the quail
ity of the skin. Ii depends upon the
quality of the hair and the skin TO define
the quality or richness of the milk the
animal will give. The indications of the
best quality by the hair are where the
hair is short, soft, silky, furry; and, by
the skin, where the skin is soft. like a kid
glove, very oleagnous, unctuous with
the richness or fat pervading the animal
and exuding through the skin and form
ing dandruff
The nearer the color of the skin comes
To that peculiar rich yellow or copper
color which Guenon calls Indienne, or
nankeen color, the better il is. Particu-
lar attention must be given to these
points, for they have great bearing on
the judgment TO be formed and the es-
cutcheon is only to be judged in connec-
ton with these and other points.
In addition to the esc,ltchcon, the hair,
the skin, and the color of the skin, there
are other points quite necessary to in
terpret infallibly These are the breed,
the size, the feed, the care and treatment,
the surroundings (such as climate, tenn
perature), period of CESSATION, and age
of the animal. For instance, we should
not Judge the little Jersey from the
standpoint of the Durham. In one case
the size of the Jersey, even with the
same class of escutcheon, would indicate
a less quantity of milk; yet the Jersey
would most probably Indicate n better
quality. So we would not Judge an
Ayrshire from the same point of view as
a grade cow or a so-called native. Differ
cnt breeds to have prevalence of q
similar class OF escutcheon. Thus a
Jersey will rather incline to the Sewage
and Bicorn escutchcons; Durham and
a Dutch, to the Flanders; while grade
cows will be of more variety in their
escutchcon and harder to place in class,
from the mixture OF two classe of es-
cutchcon being brought together, rs de-
veloped on two breeds or mixed breeds.
The rules of the system are rs applica-
bic to calves and bulls as to cows; for by
them can be told, after three months,
whether it will pay to raise the calf, or
to dispose of it. In either sex, the young
should be judged by class and size Of
cscutcheon, by the color and texture of
the skin and hair. Thus a saving is
effected in not being ut the expense of
raising a poor calf and not being dis
appointed in future results. From this
ability 10 raise orpurchase only the best,
the Improvement of the herds will be
very great and we shall breed only the
best. w r. Hag2ayd, IN ohio Farmer.