HOW TO SELECT COWS TEXT

examined the stock, and we think they judged rightly of it, in nearly every case—we should say within five per cent. of being entirely correct. We have examined the account to be printed with the original record, and find it to be correct and corresponding. JAMES YOUNG, JAMES S. YOUNG.” Examination of the Herd of William Calder, Esq., Harrisburg. The commission visited one of the farms of William Calder, near Harrisburg. This gentleman has seven farms, containing nine hundred acres, and keeps a variety of stock. On the farm visited, near the reservoir, the commission examined eight head of grade stock, in very good order, on good September pasturage. The dairyman, a very intelligent man, had no record of the exact quantity and quality of the stock, but, as he milked them himself, a knowledge of their general qualities; and upon hearing the decision of the commission upon each cow, assented to the character given of all of them, except on two points: on one as to yield, and on another as to time. It was pleasing to notice the surprise and delight expressed by him at the exhibition, of entire strangers to the herd, of such accurate knowledge of them as the system showed it could give. And he determined to acquire it forthwith. The commission saw a very fine black grade cow, with the calf by her side a perfect specimen of the Belted stock, though sired by a thorough-bred Jersey bull—to be accounted for only by the fact that the cow had been served by a Belted bull the third time before this one. Examination of Several Herds near West Grove, Blanketed and Unblanketed, under the Supervision of a Committee of the Experimental Farm Club. It had been stated by some that the commission used the ordinary means of judging of the value of cows, in addition to the Guenon tests. This was, of course, entirely denied by the commission; and as it was repeated in the public print, the commission, to settle the matter in the minds of candid men, offered to have any number of cows blanketed, so that only their posteriors could be seen, and then judge of their escutcheons, provided a committee should be present at the examination, view it closely, and give a report. Thus pressed, the challenge was accepted, and there was appointed a committee of five of some of the best farmers and dairymen residing near the Experimental farm. It was also understood that any could attend who wished to, and on the day of the examination three of the committee were present, as well as a number of other farmers. The commission examined the first five in the stable, blanketed, then two unblanketed, then two blanketed, and the remaining four unblanketed. The report of this committee is appended herewith. The cows were examined on a farm of Thomas Gawthrop, near West Grove. Afterward a number of cows were examined on several farms in the neighborhood, in the presence of the committee. No longer time was required to form an opinion on the blanketed cows than on the others, and the comparative results can be judged from the accompanying tables. The commission met them on the day appointed, at the farm of Thomas Gawthrop, and in the presence of the committee (three being present,) and of others, examined seven cows blanketed, and would have examined more, but the committee said it was useless, as they could see, and had full faith that only the escutcheon was considered by the commission. On this farm thirteen head were examined, and the results are herewith given. All then adjourned to the farms of Mark Hughes, Howard Preston, and Everard Conard, and examined other stock in the presence of the committee. The committee’s report will be found annexed, thus setting to rest the charge that the commission were examining by any other than the Guenon test. THOMAS GAWTHROP’S ACCOUNT OF COWS|THE GUENON COMMISSION’S ACCOUNT OF EXAMINED AT THOMAS GAWTHROP’S | COWS EXAMINED AT THOMAS GAWTHROP’S FARM, SEPTEMBER 20. | FARM, SEPTEMBER 20. | _No. 1._—VICTORIA.—Grade, Jersey |_No. 1._—VICTORIA.*—Grade, Jersey and and Durham. | Durham. Eight years. Quantity, first. | Quantity, first. Quality, first. | Quality, first. A first-class butter cow, and | Up to her time. milks well up to time. | | _No. 2._—CECIL.—Grade, Jersey. |_No. 2._—CECIL.* Quantity, first. | Quantity, first. Quality, first. First-class | Quality, first. for butter. | Milks up to time. | Short eight weeks. | _No. 3._—NELLIE. |_No. 3._—NELLIE.*—Demijohn, 1. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, first. Dry from ten to twelve weeks. | Short eight weeks. | _No. 4._—LUCY.—Recently |_No. 4._—LUCY.*—Flanders, 2d. purchased. | Yields three months from | Quantity, second. calving thirteen quarts. | Quality, first. | Quality, first. | Up to her time. | _No. 5._—LILY.—Grade, Jersey. |_No. 5._—LILY.*—Grade, Jersey. | Flanders, 2d. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, first. | Quality, first. Milks up to time. | Dry four to six weeks. | _No. 6._—BEAUTY.—Jersey. |_No. 6._—BEAUTY.—Jersey. Five years | old. Yields fourteen quarts per day.| Quantity, third. Quality, first. | Quality, second. Milks to within eight weeks of | Dry two months. calving. | | _No. 7._—DARBY.—Jersey. |_No. 7._—DARBY.—Jersey. Flanders, 2d. Quantity, fourteen quarts per | Quantity, second. day. | Quality, first. | Quality, first. Almost impossible to turn dry, | Dry four weeks. though never excelling in | quantity. | | _No. 8._—STAR.—Grade, three |_No. 8._—STAR.†—Grade, three quarter quarter Jersey. | Jersey. Flanders, 3d. Yield with first calf from | Quantity, second. twelve to fourteen quarts | per day, and milks well up | to time. | Quality, first class. | Quality, first. | Dry six weeks. | Her Jersey blood helps to overcome | some blemishes on her escutcheon. | _No. 9._—NORAH. |_No. 9._—NORAH.†—Grade. Quantity, first, | Quantity, first. Quality, first. | Quality, first. Dry from eight to ten weeks. | Up to her time. | _No. 10._—SALLIE.‡ |_No. 10._—SALLIE.—Grade. Twelve years. | Flanders, 2d. Quantity, second. | Quantity, 2d. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Goes dry eight weeks. | Up to her time. | _No. 11._—DIDO.‡—Grade. |_No. 11._—DIDO.—Grade. Left Flanders. Quantity, twenty quarts. | Quantity, first. Second in quality. | Quality, second. Dry from eight to twelve weeks.| Dry three months. | _No. 12_.—MOLLY.‡ |_No. 12._—MOLLY. Imperfect Flanders. Yields about sixteen quarts | Quantity, second. per day. | Second-class quality. | Quality, second. Dry from eight to twelve weeks.| Dry ten weeks. | _No. 13._ WHITEFACE‡ |_No. 13._—WHITEFACE.—Grade. Curveline, | 3d. Second-class in quantity, | Quantity, third. fifteen quarts per day. | Second quality. | Quality, second. Dry about ten weeks. | Dry ten weeks. * These five cows were so blanketed, as to show only the escutcheon. † These cows were also blanketed. ‡ The last four animals were not blanketed, but were driven up and examined by the commission without any apparent reference to any marks, except the escutcheon. T. G. MARK HUGHES’ ACCOUNT OF HIS COWS,|COMMISSION’S ACCOUNT OF MARK SEPTEMBER 20. | HUGHES’ COWS. | _No. 1._—LACTE. |_No. 1._—LACTE.—Jersey thorough-bred. | Flanders, second. Do not know the quantity of | Quantity and quality, first rate. milk and butter per week, but| gives very rich milk, and | milks up to calving. | Milks close to calving. | _No. 2._ LAURA. |_No. 2._—LAURA.—Jersey thorough-bred. | Demijohn, 1st. Quantity, twenty-four quarts | Quantity, first rate. milk per day. | Quality, sixteen pounds butter | Quality, first class. per week. | Has never been dry; begins to | Milks up to calving. increase in milk about three | weeks before calving, and | cannot be turned dry. | | _No. 3._—TOPSY. |_No. 3._—TOPSY.—Grade, Jersey. Ten | years. Curveline, 1st. Quantity, twenty quarts milk | Quantity and quality, first rate. per day. | Quality, makes thirteen pounds | butter per week. | Will milk up to calving. | Milks up to calving. HOWARD PRESTON’S ACCOUNT OF HIS |GUENON COMMISSION’S ACCOUNT OF COWS. | HOWARD PRESTON’S COWS, SEPTEMBER 20. | _No. 1._—Grade Durham. |_No. 1._—Flanders, 2d.—Grade Durham. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Milks up to her time. | Up to time. | _No. 2._—Grade Durham. |_No. 2._—Left Flanders.—Grade Durham. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry ten weeks. | Dry two months. | _No. 3._—Common stock. |_No. 3._—Grade stock.—Imperfect | Flanders. Quantity, second. | Quantity, third. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry eight to ten weeks. | Dry eight weeks. | _No. 4._—Grade Durham. |_No. 4._—Grade Durham.—Selvage, 2d. Quantity, third, | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry ten weeks. | Dry ten weeks. | _No. 5._—Common stock. |_No. 5._—Native stock.—Flanders, 3d. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, third. Dry three months. | Dry three months. | _No. 6._—Grade Durham. |_No. 6._—Grade Durham.—Flanders, 3d. Quantity, second. | Quantity, third. Quality, second. | Quality, third. Dry eight weeks. | Dry six to eight weeks. | _No. 7._—Grade Durham. |_No. 7._—Grade Durham.—Bicorn, 3d. Quantity, second. | Quantity, third. Quality, third. | Quality, third. Dry ten weeks. | Dry six to eight weeks. | _No. 8._—NELLY.—Grade Jersey. |_No. 8._—NELLY.—Grade Jersey.—Flandrine | a Gauche. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry eight weeks. | Time, eight weeks. | _No. 9._—JESSIE.—Grade Jersey. |_No. 9._—JESSIE.—Grade Jersey.—Selvage. Quantity, second. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, first. Milks up to time. | Up to time. | _No. 10._—POLLY.—Grade Jersey. |_No. 10._—POLLY.—Grade | Jersey.—Flanders, 2d. Quantity, first. | Quantity, second. Quality, first. | Quality, second. Milks up to her time. | Up to time. | _No. 11._—LILY.—Common stock. |_No. 11._—LILY.—Native stock.—Flanders, | 2d. Quantity, first. | Quantity, first. Quality, first. | Quality, first. Dry eight weeks. | Dry four to six weeks. _No. 12._—BLUSH.—Grade Jersey |_No. 12._—BLUSH.—Grade Jersey. | Curveline, 2d. Quantity, first. | Quantity, second. Quality, first. | Quantity, second. Dry six weeks. | Dry six weeks. | _No. 13._—TOPSY.—Grade Jersey. |_No. 13._—TOPSY.—Imperfect | Curveline.—Grade Jersey. Quantity, second. | Quantity, third. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry three months. | Dry three months. | _No. 14._—BONNIE.—Common stock. |_No. 14._—BONNIE.—Flanders, 1st.—Native | stock. Quantity, first. | Quantity, first. Quality, first. | Quality, second. Milks up to her time. | Up to her time. | _No. 15._—DAISY.—Common stock |_No. 15._—DAISY.—Flanders, 3d.—Native | stock. Quantity, third. | Quantity, third. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry three months or more. | Dry six weeks. | _No. 16._—KATIE.—Common stock. |_No. 16._—KATIE.—Flanders, 2d.—Native | stock. Quantity, third. | Quantity, second. Quality, second. | Quality, second. Dry six weeks. | Dry four to six weeks. JOSEPH PYLE’S STATEMENT OF HIS |GUENON COMMISSION’S ACCOUNT OF COWS: | JOSEPH PYLE’S COWS: | _No. 1._—FAWN. |_No. 1._—RED GRADE COW—8 | years.—Flanders, 2. Quantity, 10 to 15 quarts. | Quantity, 14 or 15 quarts. Quality, very rich milk. | Quality, second. Dry from four to six weeks. | Dry about ten weeks. | _No. 2._—FANCY. |_No. 2._—FANCY.—Guernsey. Flanders, 3. Quantity, 16 to 18 quarts. | Quantity, 18 quarts when fresh, and | will begin to reduce and stop | two months short of her time. Quality, milk very good | Quality, first. quality. | Falls off sooner than most | Will go two months dry. cows, and will go dry eight | weeks. | This cow had been previously examined, May 11, at Thos. M. Harvey’s farm. Mr. Harvey had since sold her to Mr. Pyle. The following are the two statements at that time: T. M. HARVEY: |GUENON COMMISSION: | Quality, medium. | Quality, medium. Quantity, 16 quarts and fails | Quantity, poor. fast. | Dry three months. | Dry two months. COMMISSION’S ACCOUNT OF MILTON E. CONARD’S COWS: _No. 1._—LILY.—Grade, Guernsey. Bicorn, 1. Quantity, about 20 quarts. Quality, first. Milks up to her time. _No. 2._—FLOYD.—Flanders, 1. Quantity, 18 quarts. Quality, very good. Milks up to her time. This is a very correct description of my cows, Lily and Floyd. M. E. CONARD. The above examination of our herds of cows, some of which were covered by a large blanket, completely excluding from view every part of the animal except the escutcheon and back part of udder, subjected the commission to the severest test that could be applied; and agreeing, as their estimate of quality and quantity does, with our previously written reports, leads us to think that in the hands of experts it would be a valuable aid in judging the quality of dairy stock. THOMAS GAWTHROP, EVERARD CONARD, HOWARD PRESTON, MARK HUGHES, _Committee_. WEST GROVE, _11 month 7, 1878_. The undersigned having been present at the examination of Thomas Gawthrop’s herd of dairy cows, by the Guenon commission, on the 2d day of 9 month, 1878, am free to say that, although most of the cows were blanketed from horns to tail, their estimate, in a great majority of them, very nearly corresponded with the owners account previously prepared. M. E. CONARD. WEST GROVE, PA., _11 month 7, 1878_. Joseph Pyle would have signed had he been present at the examination. Expresses confidence in the system. T. G. Examination of J. & J. Darlington’s Cows, October 2d. The commission visited the herds of Messrs. J. & J. Darlington, October 2, at Darlington station, on Westchester road, Delaware county. These gentlemen make the finest butter and get the largest price in the market. Their dairy is admirably arranged. They have farms of four hundred and eighty acres, and have a herd of one hundred and sixty-seven cows. They had selected about a fair sample of the herd in two lots of cows. The first lot, from No. 9 to 33, was on one farm, and those numbered from 1 to 14 on the other farm. These gentlemen kept no test of the quality of any cow’s milk, and have no exact record of the quantity given by any cow; but as they are experienced dairymen, and thoroughly practical men, they knew about what each cow was giving in milk, and about its general quality, and sufficient to pronounce the grade of each cow, whether first, second, or third class. Therefore, in their record they do not give the exact record, as the committee would have desired, so as to compare with their own estimates, but they give the general qualities of the cow, and the two records must be compared from that stand point. Another matter must be taken into consideration. The Messrs. Darlington