The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-06-05
HOW TO JUDGE A COW.
The Ten Points Given by Willis P.
Hazard, of Westchester, Pa.

/, The skin; this must be fairly thin and
mellow. Tae unctuous fat exudations giving
the skin and the hair a mellow unctuous feel
ing and makes the hand feel greasy, as if one
had been handling soap.
2, The hair; it should be short and fine,
silky or furry; being softened by the same
righteousness that affects the skin. The best
butter cows have short thin hair.
B, Conformation.
4, The age; this should be considered, as
the yield increases and is larger in COWS each
year after the second calf. Mr.. Hazard gave
the only way for Judging the age of cows; this
point drew out many questions, and much in
terest.
5, The period of gestation; the animal
changes very much in her appearance and in
yield of milk as CESSATION advances, and is i'm
portant in selecting to know this Mr.. Hazard
also described the bastards. The farmer is
often disappointed by these animals, as their
yield to him is so much less though promising
the first three months.
6, The health of the COW; as evidenced bya
clear eye, healthy skin, fine coat of hair, good
quick step and an excellent appetite. Her
health will have an important influence on her
yield and the qualities of the milk.
7, The feed; to maintain good health and
get best returns for profit, she must be well
and intelligently fed; and according to her
capacity for work. The good feeder is usually
good yielder.
g. The breed; as breeds vary in their points
and yields, and in the quality; so they must
be judged by knowledge of what the different
breeds will do; for instance it would be very
unsafe to Judge the Jersey and the Friessian
from the same standpoint as to yields and
quality.
8, The size; each pure bred animal must to
a certain extent conform to the average size
of that breed, there are three weights that
animals may be arranged under, the large,
the medium and the small, and allow
ance must be made to conform the judgment
TO a right view of these animals
10, The escutcheon; Guenon il his work of
which Mr. Hazard made and published an
illustrated translation from the French, gives
over 100 engraved views of the varieties of the
escutcheon, by which the judge can approach
a very accurate opinion alone; through
the knowledge of which, with the above points
well studied and applied can be told with ac-
clracy the time that a COW will milk, how
much milk she will give, and how much butter
she will make.
On this point Mr. Hazard said II have
never seen a COW with a first class escutcheon
that was poor COW, nor have | ever seen
cow with a poor escutcheon that was a good
one, especially when it was unaccompanied
by majority of the other points always found
with good estuation.
To summarize the value of all these points
''the having of profitable herd, can only be
acquired by practice, and this must be aided
by knowledge of general principles, an OBJ
servant eye, and a sensitive hand
This importance will be also fully felt by
the one who wants but one family COW to sup
ply all his needs for milk and butter. Those
present felt this to be the case and the visit of
the representatives of the State Agricultural
Department has done much lasting good to
our farmers in their practical visit.