Imperial Valley press., 1922-09-13
EXPERT TELLS
HOW TO JUDGE
BEST in COWS
Good Dairy Cows Cost but
Pay First Year; Have
Certain. Points

a small booklet published by Ralpi,
\. uayne, Il dairy expert, contains manF'
valuable suggestions to the prospective
,taryman, and in fact, has considerable
good advice which can be used to ad
vantage by the practical dairvman who
desires to operate his dairy under mod
ern and sanitary conditious, at Il sub
,tantial profit. Discussing the subject
Of COWS, the booklet says, "There are
two ways of getting COWS, one being
to raise them, and the other TO buy
them. There is uncertainty in buying
'ows even from ones nearest neigh
bor
general survey of the COW, OBJ
tanned by walking around her a few
steps away will give an idea of her
principal characteristics. \ good dairy
COW usually, has Il ucat head and neck
hcr eys are bright, her middle or barrel
is deep and roomy, to hold lots of feed
She is wide across the hips and her I'D
Ter is large.
"The buyer can find out Il lot about
cow by looking at her head. If the
head shows a face of medium length,
free from flesh, with broad nose and
large nostrils, strong jaw and ears with
4 velvety feel like the skin on the COWS
body, it is a sign of a good COW. II
The head shows a pointed nose, small
nostrils, small mouth and weak Jaws;
if the COW hangs her head and has dull
yes and droopy ears, watch out, she
may have tuberculosis. Anyway she is
not 4 good COW to buy or own.
Stand in front of the COW and take
4 good look at her from that angle
The good COW S legs should be square
under her and wide apart, making room,
for good chest.
"Observc the COW S neck. A good
larry COW s neck is usually neat, rathe.
slim and curved down n bit on top
Don t select q cow having Il coarse
thick ueck with a lot of extra skin or
dewlap under the neck, she S ap, To be
Il disappointment.
Take n side view of the co". is
her back straight from the shoulders
to root of tail and has She a good length
If back to make room for her bio
middle! Is the top line of her rumr
straight when viewed from the sid"
and long from hip bones to pin bones
Has she Il strong constitution and good
'apacity for feed? If so the chances
are she will make Il good dairy COW.
\ good milk producer may have low
back but ii usually indicates weakness.
Cows with big middlcs may sag Il little
IN the back when they get old, but the
Young cow should have Il straight back.
In taking a close look at the cow
see that her shoulders taper mp to the
withers on top. Run the hand over
he rback bone. Many good COWS have
prominent back bones with the sections
or Ncrtebra not closely joined. The
loinS should be level and wide. Hard.
tight skin indicates poor blood circula
tlon or that the COW is out of condi-
tion; the skin should be soft and p,i
able. Get Il view of her thlcXness
through the heart and note the spring
of her ribs.
Stand behind the COW ana not. the
width and shape her hindquaI ters.
See that she is wide between the pin
bones and across the hips and that her
legs stand wide with plenty of room
for the udder between the hooks.
''Nevef buy Il COW without first milk
ing her to be sure that her udder i
healthy and sound and every teat work
ing.