The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-04-26

ing flies, which appears to be it's chief
purpose.
In judging the quality and condition
of the muscular tissue of the body one
should remember to take into consid-
GRAFTON the size, age, and stage OF
lactation of the animal. The bone
and muscular tissues in a large cow
are naturally heavier than in small
one and there is not the apparent re-
f1nement and spareness Of form in the
large breeds that is noted in tho
smaller ones. Marked coarseness.
however, in any animal is usually
accompanied by a sluggish disposi-
ton which in a dairy COW prevento
her from performing satisfactorily.
Young heifers with first calf usually
carry more flesh than cows Of mature
form. All properly fed cows usually
show a higher condition Of flesh de-
velopment toward the close Of their
lactation and prior to freshening than
they do when four or five months ad-
vanced in lactation.
The Udder.-The udder is the milk
secreting organ and its proper devel-
opment is, therefore, essential In
many instances COWS of large digestive
capacity and of dairy breeding have
failed in production apparently on &C
count Of poorly developed udders. The
udder consists of two large glands,
each of which is more or less distinct
ly divided to correspond with each of
the four teats and form the quarters.
The duct Of each teat enters small
cavity termed the milk cistern. The
milk cistern of each quarter is more
or less surrounded by lobes Of gland
tissue held in position and closely to-
gether by connecting tissue. These
lobes may be likened to thick lunches
of grapes since each lobe has several
lobules corresponding to the grapes.
The lobules are made of small divisions
called alveoli which correspond to the
seeds of grapes. These alveoli are
constructed of small cells surrounded
by fine network Of blood vessels and
nerves and it is by these cells that the
milk is secreted.
The best cows have comparatively
large udders with equally developed
quarters extending we'll forward un.
derneath the body and good distance
up behind and between the thighs.
Poor attachment giving a swinging or
pendant type of udder and deficiency
and irregularity in the development of
the quarters are criticisms to be Of
fered on many COWS. The quality OF
the udder when examined by handling
should reveal gland tissue Of fine,
plastic texture rather than fatty tissue
or texture that is coarse and hard.
The quality of the udder appears to
be the most essential consideration,
since perfectly formed udder Of
meaty, coarse tissue does not produce
like one Of less desirable type having
better quality
The CircuIatory System.-This sys-
tenn determines the activity of the
COW with respect to all parts Of the
body. Only when in perfect health
and all parts Of the body are actively
performing their respective functions
can the dairy COW be expected to yield
a large flow of milk. When the COW
is sick or by virtue Of her poor indi-
viduality is dull and morbid there is
an inactivity of all the glands of the
body resulting in dry, harsh condi-
ton of the skin, staring coat, and a
low production of milk. The circula
tory system includes the heart, lungs,
arteries and veins since these organs
respectively force. purify and carry
blood to and from all parts of the
body. When food becomes digested
it to the parts of the body demanding
it ant in the dairy COW the glands of
the udder demand a large share OF the
nourishment of the blood for the secre-
ton of milk. The size and character
Of the milk veins, more properly
termed "mammary VEINS" and tho
milk wells on the underside Of the
body are the best indications Of how
much blood passes through the udder.
These veins do not cary milk as some
people believe, but carry a large por-
ton of the blood away from the udder.
The blood passes into the udder
through arteries located deep on the
inner side Of the thighs. If one were
standing below mill propelled by
water wheel and noted the race filled
with water from the mill he would
have reason to believe that the mil!
was in operation and performing its
work. Likewise when one observes
largo branching mammarv veins on
tering the body through wells of suf1i-
cient size to avoid vein becoming
gorged he has reason to believe that
the udder is performing it's work we'll.