The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-06-13
BENTON, BOsSIER IA,THU

gans-the heart and lungs COW mar
row between the forelegs is exactly tn,
same as narrow chested person-botl
are apt to be subjects for tuberculosis.
The backbone should be large, loose
| ly pointed and a little prominent, an
other indication of nerve power for in
the backbone runs the spinal cord. the
chief nerve of the body.
The barrel or body of the COW should
have good length and depth. This is
her storehouse and should be capable
of holding large quantities of food.
The cow should be wide and strong
across the loins to support this large
paunch, for weakness in this point Of
ten causes a sag in the back. The
thighs should be thin and followed out
to give plenty Of space between the
legs, and the tanks should be high. al.
lowing room for a large udder
Horsemen say, mo foot, no horse" !"
Dairymen say, 'No udder. no cow"
The udder should extend we'll up at the
back and we'll forward. being strongly
attached to the body. The sole of the
udder in a COW. especially young COW,
should be level and the teats evenly
placed and conveniently long to be
milked. The udder should be covered
with fine soft hair, should be springy.
and the veins should be prominent
Milk Veins and Milk Wells.
The milk veins coming from the I'D
der and running forward under the
body should be large, tortuous and ex-
tending we'll toward the front before
entering the body through what are
called the milk wells. Sometimes these
openings in the abdominal wall are
small and press the veins, swelling
them and making them appear larger
than they really are. In buying COW
not milking it is well to feel the size
of the milk wells, and they will be
some indication Of the size and length
Of the milk veins.
After the COW is milked out the I'D
der should hang like bag of skin,
soft and pliable. Occasionally we see
COW with beautiful udder After
being MIXED she still has her beautiful
udder, but has added little to the milk
pail. This is known as fleshy udder
and often deceives buyer.
The escutcheon, or milk mirror, is
considered by some dairymen as an
important indication of cows value
as a mixer. The escutcheon is that
portion Of the hind quarters at the back
and top of the udder where the hair
points upward instead of downward.
1t is taken as a good sign when the
space covered with such hair is large
and when there are several "cores" or
"whirlpools'' where the hair gathers
toward a center.
Some judges like the terminal tail
bone to reach the hook. The tail is but
continuation of the backbOne-the
larger and more loosely jointed the
vertebrae the longer the tail 1t should
taper toward the point and end in n
nice. full switch.
First Look For Constitution.
Summing up the qualities of good
COW, we should say first look for con-
stitution. 1t is anything but pleasant
to think Of using milk which has come
from sickly, diseased animal Don't
you think with me there is strong
relationship between the vitality of the
COW and the vitality of the milk she
gives? First, then, let us emphasize
the necessity of having a healthy COW
as indicated by a readiness for her
food. full, bright eye, soft. pliable
hair and skin: steady. even breathing
and good heart and lung capacity
Then we want good milking qualities.
as suggested by strong nervous sys-
TEN, large middle piece and splendid
udder. She should have a quiet, con.
tented disposition, submit quietly to
being handled and should be an easy
mixer
A cow should increase in her milk
flow during the first few lactation Pc
RODS, and frequently there is slight
increase in the percentage of fat as
she reaches maturity
She may be said to be at her best
from her fifth to her eighth year, and
many do splendid work for many years
after that age.
A COW should make from $50 to SEQ
& year profit A very good one may