The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-04-26
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Lay o
A dairy COW is one of the specific
dairy type and breed capable Of max
ing large and economical production
of milk and butter fat. A careful study
and analysis of this definition and Its
application to COWS whenever one has
opportunity to apply it will greatly aid
in getting in mind the correct ideal
of the dairy COW and in Judging and
buying COWS.
TYPE" refers to the conformation
Of an animal and Is indicative Of util-
ity. Specific dairy type" refers to an
animal having large, deep barrel. a
prominent, we'll developed udder, and
sharp, clean cut features about the
head, neck, shoulders, back, hips and
rump, due to the absence of thick
flesh. Such type indicates dairy util-
ity and that she is Of little value ex-
cept for milk production.
The dairy COW must be of distinct
dairy breed as we'll as Of dairy type;
otherwise she may convert her feed
into flesh rather than milk and thus
result in beef animal. The National
and International dairy shows of this
country recognize the Holstein, Guern-
sey, Jersey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss.
and Dutch Belted breeds of cattle as
distinct dairy breeds. High grade and
pure bred animals of these breeds are
found in this state and rank in num-
be. in the order named. Pure bred
animals possess 100 per cent. OF the
blood of their respective breeds while
the grade animals have a predomin-
ance Of the blood Of given breed but
less than 100 per cent. Grade COWS
are generally by pure bred sires and
oct Of native or grade dams.
A large production of milk and but
ter fat is a necessary requisite for a
dairy COW. The production for at least
a year should be taken into cOnsidera-
ton because some cows make large
production during the early part OF
their lactation and then dry off soon.
1t is characteristic of beef COWS and
of many poor COWS Of the dairy breeds
to dry off soon. A strictly dairy cow
tends to make large and economical
production of butter fat throughout
her life time which means that she
converts comparatively large
amount Of the feed that she eats into
milk and butter fat. and only small
portion of it into building up the tissues
H. 81 oh VIZ
of dairy breeding and constitution !;
and not only produces milk and butter
fat in large and economical quantities
but also at regular intervals progeny
which tends to be satisfactory for
dairy purposes.
Means by Which Cows are Judged.
Judging COWS is not easy in spite of
the fact that there are three means
of Judging. The most common means
is by the eye, directed by a knowledge
that has been acquired by study and
experience The trained and practiced
eye can Judge the desirability Of type
and breed characteristics and estimate
fairly accurately whether or not a
COW is capable of producing a satisfac.
tory quantity of milk and butter fat.
Essential Features Of the Dairy Cow
The dairy COW is a living machine
which. when in perfect health and
form. has four prominent features
These are: body indicating a large,
strong digestive capacity, dairy tenn
permanent which is nervous and results
in milk production rather than flesh
production, large we'll developed I'D
der Of healthy gland tissue. and a
strong c1rculatory system that dis
tributes the blood actively to all parts
of the body and gives vigor. health,
the production Of milk as she fails in
one or more of these essential fea-
lures. Each part of the body bears
some relationship to one or more of
these essential features and enables
one to fudge of their prominence
Where one is able to consider all the
parts Of the body aud judge these es-
sential features he is not likely to err
seriously in his Judgment.
Digestive capaeity.-A large body,
more especially the barrel in Proper
ton to the size of the animal, is in
dfcative Of capacity. The body Of the
dairy COW should be wedge shaped as
viewed from front, side and top. That
is wider at the hip points and be-
tween the fore legs than at the with
ers, and deeper from the hip points
to the lower line of the rear flank
than at the fore quarters. This char
acter Of the body has led to the term,
tr1ple-wedge-shaped conformation, and
in giving consideration to the d.
gestive capacity of the COW one should
remember that it is the base ends of
tue wedges, rather than the sharp
ends which indicate her capacity.
Long. we'll sprung ribs, openness of
chine, width of back over loins, size
of barrel, depth and width between
the hips. and fullness of rear tanks
all combine to indicate large digestive
capacity. A wide forehead and a COM
paratively long face are indicative Of
the size and feed capacity of the body
and likewise the broad muzzle, good
sized mouth and strong, sinewy Jaw.
The tail Is often measured in Judging
the COW and should reach to or below
the hccks and carry good switch
This renders it most useful in brush