Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-09-14
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPBED THE PLow."
Judging MIX Cows.

JuoginX MILK COWS.
Although the main object aimed at Il
the Animal Husbandry Experiments b,
the Maine Agricultural Experiment. Sta
| tion is finding the laws that underllt
Inheritance of milk and milk fat pro
duction 1t has published rather more
than 100 pages of the analyses OF Ad
vsnced Registry and other dairy records
Much of the literature pertaining tc
dairy cattle breeding has to do with CON.
formation of the cow as q measure oil
her possible or probable milk produc
tion. The so-called stock judging is
based on conformation. Certain of the
standards set for ideals of conformation
as of head, body, milk veins and udder
have been arrived at somewhat arbitra.
rily. In judging the ideal is 100 and the
departure from the ideal Is indicated by
smaller number. When traced to
their source, surprising though It may
appear, there is little concrete evidence
upon which to decide what the true
value of an animal conformation should
be to secure q maximum milk produc-
ton.
Several years ago the American Jersey
Cattle Club collected very valuable
and large body of data bearing on this
point. These consisted of the reports
of the judges on conformation, seven
day milk and butter-fat tests, and yearly
milk yields. Through the kindness Of
the secretary of the club these data
were placed at the disposal of the Maine
Station for analysis as up to that time
they had not been adequately analyzed
About 100 COWS we're examined (iudged)
by about 140 individuals Gudges.) The
animals were all Jerseys with sufficient
ly high records of milk yield and but
ter-fat production to be included In the
Register of Merit" class. The results
of the study were published in detail In
the Journal of Dairy Science and in
abstract form as miscellaneous publica-
tion 5SS OF this station. A copy of the
last named can be had on request to the
Director at Orono.
The following are among the things
found that are of considerable practical
interest. These cows in spite of their
high milk production failed by 10 points
to reach the ideal. In the minds of the
judges the most seriously defective parts
had to deal with the mammary system,
it's size and blood supply. OF the parts
which have to do with the body proper
the least ideal was the barrel. The
most variable part of the body included
the eyes, the horns and the muzzle.
The least variable was the size of the
body.
The primary object of cattle judging
Is to measure the probable milk yield.
The total score Of the animal 10 these
cases was closer measure than any
detail for conformation OF the animals
production as shown by the scales and
butter-fat test. The parts having dis.
tinctly significant relation to the milk
production were the milk veins, size and
condition of the udder and especially
the size and shape of the rear portion OF
the udder. the shape and size OF the bar.
rel and the general appearance Of the
COW.
A comparison between the estimates
of the judges and seven day milk test
as q measure of the whole lactation's
milk yield was not favorable to the
method of judging. A seven day milk
toSt W tucSo tUO Cdsoo WAS tWo ouu !"
bali times nearer the actual production
than the prediction from the conforma-
tion by the 140 judges. This means that
the short milk test is far superior to the
conformation as guide to actual milk
production. 1t emphasizes the value Of
the so-called advanced registry records
whether it be by the continuous seven
day test or by the two day monthly
yearly tests. Such tests, taken In con-
nection with the analysis of milk and
butter.fst yield at different ages and
stages Of laotation as have been made by
the Maine Station, make It fairly easy to
tell In her first lactation whether q
heifer is promising animal and what
she would likely yield In any subsequent
lactation n.-Chas. D. Woods, Director.