Show SELECTING SELECTING DAIRY COW Essential Functions Are Milk Production Production Production Pro Pro- and Reproduction Only Small Proportion of Animals Used for Dairy Purposes on Which Records Are Arc Kept Kept Kept-Charac- Charac Characteristics of Conformation The essential functions of the dairy cow are milk production and und The most accurate methods of ot determining these are 1 Milk IlIk production h by means of the milk scales and the Babcock test 2 reproduction reproduction reproduction re re- re- re production b by brooding breeding records There Thele is only a small proportion of the cows used for dairy purposes on which such records s are kept ThIs Tills necessitates the employment of some other method of selection In the breeding of high producing animals i through several generations It has hns I been observed that there are 1110 certain characteristics of oC the conformation which are correlated with large pro pro- These characteristics are namely 1 E. E Extreme angular form catT carrying no surplus flesh but In good physical condition 2 Prominent development development development de de- of the tho udder and veins 3 The symmetrical development of the barrel with large capacity After one ODe becomes familiar with these external characteristics It Is possible to select cows producing pounds of fat tat per year ear from those producing pounds The comes in picking the animal animal ani ani- mal that will produce pounds of fat per year as ns compared to the one producing pounds The selection of animals by this thIs' method Is rather uncertain The farmer makes the largest majority of s 4 i 1 m Fine Dairy Type his selections In this tIlls manner and should be familiar with Its limitations In order to judge the animal with much accuracy she should be In milk and at nt the best stage of her lactation period A cow that Is dl dry offers very little upon which to base opinion as she has Ims a n tendency to take on flesh I Cows that have been underfed are In Inno Inno Inno no condition to be Judged It Is hard to tell teH what heifers will do from appearance up- up before calving Sometimes the cow that has hns all of the external appearances does not have the stimulatIon stimulation stimulation lation to produce milk Until records are are kept of more animals or some other means devised for selection the selection by type should be used and It Is up to eYer everyone one Interested In dairy cattle to become familiar with It |