HOW TO SELECT COWS TEXT

the shape of a spire, but stop short about half way. [Illustration] The first order has the escutcheon of yellowish color, with flexible udder, covered with hair downy and silky. The shape is the same as the seventh and eighth class, except that the vertical escutcheon ends in a sharp point, like a spire or arrow head. There are tufts along each side of the vulva, and two ovals on the udder. Cows of the first order give fifteen quarts, and milk eight months. [Illustration] The second order is similar in the escutcheon, but smaller, with but one oval on the udder, and the vulva tufts larger, the left being longer than the right. Cows of the second order give thirteen quarts, and milk seven months. [Illustration] The third order is again smaller; the corners rounded downward; the tufts larger; no oval on the udder. Cows of the third order give ten quarts, and milk six months. [Illustration] The fourth order same shape as the last, but still smaller and more rounding. The vulva tufts are of bristly hair, and the left one is seven inches long. Cows of the fourth order give eight quarts, and milk five months. [Illustration] The Bastards of the ninth class have a good escutcheon, but are distinguished by the large tufts of coarse, bristly hair alongside the vulva. The Tenth Class.—Horizontal. [Illustration] The first order have a dandruff of yellowish color; the hair is short, fine, and silky; the escutcheon is lower down from the vulva than the other classes, and is cut off by a horizontal line. There are two ovals on the udder; and two tufts, about three and one half inches long, on the sides of the vulva. Cows of the first order give thirteen quarts, and milk eight months. [Illustration] The second order has a smaller escutcheon; the vulva tufts are larger, the right shorter than the left; there is but one udder oval; in several of the orders of this class there is a small streak of ascending hair directly below the vulva. Cows of the second order give ten quarts, and milk seven months. [Illustration] The third order have still smaller escutcheons; larger vulva tufts, the one on the left of bristling hair, four to five inches in length. The descending hair encroaches on the escutcheon on the right in a triangular shape. Cows of the third order give eight quarts, and milk six months. [Illustration] The fourth order have still smaller escutcheons; larger and coarser vulva tufts; and an invasion on the escutcheon on the right in triangular shape, and on the left of semi-circular shape. Cows of the fourth order give seven quarts, and milk five months. [Illustration] The bastards of the tenth class have the escutcheons large and good shaped; but are distinguished by the tufts alongside the vulva, these tell how long she will milk, by their size and the grade of the hair on them. Effects of Crossing two Escutcheons. CROSS BETWEEN THE SELVAGE AND LEFT FLANDERS.—The cows bearing this character are easily recognizable in certain breeds, and notably on those of the north-east of France. [Illustration] CROSS BETWEEN THE BICORN AND SELVAGE.—The _Epi_, or tuft, which I termed _jonctif_, or mesian tuft, and which is seen adhering under the vulva, is a favorable sign, and can be met with in those classes where the escutcheon does not reach as high as the vulva. [Illustration] Cows which bear one or the other of these two escutcheons, are generally good milkers, and preserve their milk as well as cows of the first order of each class. These are the new escutcheons alluded to in Guenon’s introduction, showing the effect of crossing. ESCUTCHEONS ON BULLS. Guenon applied his discovery to bulls to great advantage. He found that bulls belonged to the same classes as cows, and had escutcheons similar, but much smaller; these extend from the testicles upward toward the anus. The importance of having a good bull becomes apparent when we reflect that he “gets” from fifty to one hundred, annually, while the cow is impregnated but once in the year. The escutcheons of the progeny of a cow with good escutcheon will be much improved if the cow is coupled with a bull well marked, and particularly if his escutcheon is the same as that of the cow. Better have the two of different breeds, but of similar or good escutcheons, than to have the bull with inferior escutcheon. Of course, the higher up the escutcheon extends on a bull, and the broader it is, the better it is, but we must not look for bulls to be so well-marked as cows are, for they never are. To distinguish the bastard bulls from the good ones, observe if there are any streaks of descending hair, and mixing so as to be bristly. This indication will be a certain one in proportion to the size of the blemish, and as that is in proportion to the whole escutcheon. Guenon says: After having described, as I have done, all the classes of cows, and taught to recognize the bastards, I pass to the characteristic signs of the bulls re-producers, which can also be divided into orders and classes; the signs are the same as for the females, but they are much more restricted and of less extent. With the males the escutcheon commences on the inside below the hams and extends as far as the middle of the posterior surface of the leg, and extends sometimes even to the anus of the superior orders in certain classes. Like that of cows, the escutcheon of bulls is modified by tufts. The bulls whose escutcheons are similar in their form and size to cows of the first order, possess a great ability for procreating good milk cows, those on the contrary whose escutcheons are but little developed, produce only those of poor yield. A bull will be well marked, and a good reproducer when there is no interruption of descending hair in the ascending hair on the escutcheon; when the shape of the escutcheon is of large dimensions in proportion to the size of the animal, and it is covered with very fine hair. The bulls of which the escutcheon is small and covered with coarse hair and irregular on the sides procreate bad milk cows, which give serous milk. [Illustration: Escutcheon of Guernsey Bull RADLEY. No. 209, A. G. H. B.] All interruptions in the ascending hair of the escutcheon by encroachments of the descending hair on the right or left, in the lower part of the thigh, indicate for their get a lower grade, and at a glance the inferiority of the milk production. The yellow or nankeen color of the skin of the escutcheon is always a favorable sign. The good reproducing bull will prove fecund until ten or fifteen years of age, but it is a rare exception. Any one may be grossly deceived if he judges only by the appearance or the shape of the prolific qualities of a bull. Experience or observation alone can show that he has maintained his early ability. A vigorous bull, well fed, can serve one or more cows each day, but it is of great importance that he shall not commence to serve until he is fifteen or eighteen months old, otherwise he will be speedily exhausted and deformed. The improving mark of his cross and his vigor will be speedily shortened. When the bull has attained the age of two and a half or three years, the form alters, the hind-quarters become attenuated, the front quarter becomes much enlarged, his neck enlarges and thickens, &c. About this time, whether he is castrated or whether he is “twisted,” he preserves always the altered form of the bull, and is less sought for work, and in less request for butchering. When the operations of castration and twisting are done too late, the animal has less predisposition to fatten; his flesh is harder and tougher; he is, however, in appearance in the same conditions of age, of quality, and of nourishment, as those castrated earlier. Often bulls, whose character is docile and gentle, become wild and furious when they are used to serve. In certain regions, to tame them, they put a ring of iron in their nose; in others, where the good use of these rings is not known, they are obliged to castrate or twist them. This operation suffices, generally, to control their passion; but, if not, they are sent to the butcher. Classification of Bull Reproducers. There are for bulls, as for cows, ten classes or families; each class sub-divided into several orders, and each order comprises three grades, high, medium, and low. I only admit, in each class, three orders. If one wishes to proceed in the application with more rigor, he will follow the sub-divisions of the classification of the cows. I will designate the three orders of each class by the denominations of good, medium, and bad. The signs indicating the qualities which render the bull likely to beget good milk cows are placed, like those of the female, on the posterior parts. They start from the bag, and rise up to the anus, covering, also, the genital parts, and the scrotum. With bulls, the escutcheons start from the anterior part of the bag, extending inside, and upon the hams, projecting on the thighs; from there, the curved lines, obtuse or acute, following the class, joining to the right or the left under the anus. The escutcheon, in all its extent, is shown by the fineness of the hair, and the skin; by the color, more or less yellow, of the epidermis, and of the particles of dandruff which can be detached. The characteristic secondary signs of the females will also be found in the males. Bulls, like cows, have four and, sometimes, six false teats, which are found before the bag, in the direction of the navel. These teats are small and short. Starting from the bag, one notices to the right and the left of the stomach two veins resembling the two milk veins of cows. They are prolonged to and pass a little in the direction of the navel, and terminate in a small cavity. Independent of the characteristic signs indicated above, the bull re-producers should unite all the essential conditions which in each locality constitute the type of the pure race. These conditions are: 1. The color of the hide preferred in that country. 2. A size proportioned to the race that they are to continue. A shape and a frame usually accepted. 3. To be of the first order in each class, easily showing the power of transmitting milking qualities. 4. Aptitude for fattening. 5. To be good for work. 6. To have a docile and patient character. The evils of conformation, like the good qualities, are transmitted generally by the act of generation. If it does not have the ability to do this, one should quickly correct it. Here the bovine race has been much neglected in all these respects. A judicious choice, and a scrupulous attention is not always prevalent in selecting a breeding animal; thus it results in a fatal re-generation, to which it is time to put a stop. Before giving the distinctive characteristics of the ten classes of bulls, it will be useful to mention those classes which are oftener met in French and foreign races; and also those which are more rare. The classes which are most distributed, and which present the greatest number of bulls, are in all races these three classes: 1. The Curved-line; 2. The Limousine; 3. The Horizontal. The classes on the contrary, which present but a very small number of subjects are in the following order: 4. Demijohn. 5. Bicorne. 6. Square-cut. 7. Selvage. 8. Left Flanders. 9. Double Selvage. 10. Flanders. [Illustration: GUERNSEY BULL RADLEY, No. 209. PROPERTY OF S. C. KENT, WEST GROVE, PA.] The reason one finds so few good breeding bulls belonging to the first class, is first, the small number of such animals compared to that of cows; and next, the lack of knowledge of the best ones to keep. Oftentimes for want of this knowledge, the best bulls were castrated for oxen or for fattening, thus by chance, the poorest are often kept. The best individuals have generally at birth, all the qualities which characterize a superior animal. They are easily kept and fattened, for the reason that their mother has much milk, and are soon ready for the butcher. Inferior animals, on account of a smaller supply of milk, are thin, and often malicious, of little value, and remain oftener in the hands of the owner. Thus are sacrificed the good bulls, and the bad are kept. Therefore, always select the choicest when they are young, to improve the race. It will thus be seen, Guenon divided his bulls into three classes: The good, the mediocre, and the bad. He also divided them into three sizes: The high, the medium, and the low. But he makes no difference between the three sizes of bulls in his description of the escutcheon. He describes each one of the three principal orders, leaving to the practitioner to determine the intermediate degrees between the good and the mediocre, and between the mediocre and the bad. We do not repeat his descriptions, as they are based upon those of the cows of the same classes, and the engravings tell the whole story. We reproduce the engravings of the good and mediocre. But very occasionally is one of the “rare” ones observed, but he says the Curved-line is the most usual, then the Limousine, and lastly the Horizontal. What we give is quite sufficient for all practical purposes. We advise all to carefully select their breeding animal, which will, in most cases, be from among what he calls the “mediocre.” [Illustration: _Class I.—Flanders Bull._] [Illustration: _Class II.—Left Flanders Bull._] [Illustration: _Class III.—Selvage Bulls._] [Illustration: _Class IV.—Curveline Bulls._] [Illustration: _Class V.—Bicorn Bulls._] [Illustration: _Class VI.—Double Selvage Bulls._] [Illustration: _Class VII.—Demijohn Bulls._] [Illustration: _Class VIII.—Square Bulls._] [Illustration: _Class IX.—Limousine Bulls._] REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GUENON COMMISSION. At the annual meeting of the Board held January 2, 1878, it was “_Resolved_, That the president of the Board (His Excellency Governor John F. Hartranft) be authorized and requested to appoint a commission of experts, who shall inquire into and report upon the reliability of the Guenon or escutcheon theory for selecting milking stock; said report to be made to the secretary of the Board on or before the 1st of November next.” In accordance with this request, His Excellency Governor Hartranft issued the following commission: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, HARRISBURG, _April 24, 1878_. To GEORGE BLIGHT, Esq., _of the city of Philadelphia_; CHALKLEY HARVEY, Esq., _of the county of Delaware_, and WILLIS P. HAZARD, Esq., _of the county of Chester_: GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to inform you that you have been duly appointed a committee by the State Board of Agriculture to investigate and test “The Guenon Milk Escutcheon Theory,” and report the result thereof to the secretary of said Board. JNO. F. HARTRANFT, _Governor and President of the Board_. _November 1, 1878._ To the Honorable JNO. F. HARTRANFT, _Governor and President of the Board of Agriculture_: YOUR EXCELLENCY: In compliance with the commission tendered us, we beg leave most respectfully to report that we have visited a number of herds and have examined two hundred cows, the result of which is herewith submitted. Having performed to the best of our ability the duty assigned us, we beg leave to be discharged from further consideration of the question. Respectfully yours, GEORGE BLIGHT, _Philadelphia_, CHALKLEY HARVEY, _Chad’s Ford_, WILLIS P. HAZARD, _West Chester_. The Pennsylvania Guenon Commission having been appointed “to investigate and test the Guenon or Milk Escutcheon theory, and report the result thereof,” respectfully report that they have examined two hundred cows, heifers, and bulls, and the result of their examinations has been to convince themselves and others of the merits of the system, of its exceeding value to the practical farmer; and they believe that if generally followed for twenty years, the value of the neat cattle of the State would be increased vastly, the amount of milk and butter produced would be much larger, and the quality of both articles better, while the quality of the meat would be improved. Having believed in and practised the system for many years, they would add that their recent extended and careful examinations and contact with a number of owners of all grades of stock, has tended to confirm them more thoroughly in their belief. As an adjunct to previous knowledge to assist purchasers or breeders of cattle in getting or raising the best, and weeding out the poorest, they think it is worthy of being acquired by every farmer. And they would recommend their fellow farmers not to be dismayed at the apparent difficulties to be surmounted in obtaining a knowledge of the system, as it is only absolutely necessary to acquire a knowledge of the first four orders of each class, and a few other points, to practically apply it, as all animals below those grades are not worthy of being kept. Any intelligent man can readily master the system, and soon become proficient in it by practice. This knowledge, applied with the tests heretofore usually used, will enable any one to become a good judge of cattle. The manner of making up their account of each animal is to examine the escutcheon and the udder, from which they place her in the class and order nearest to those delineated by Guenon, and then estimate the quantity, quality, and time that she will milk. These estimates must be, of course, only _approximate_, as they are based upon the indications of the escutcheon, the size of the cow, and her probable condition. As it is readily seen that where estimates are based upon what the cow should do _within three months of her being fresh_, it would be impossible to always grade the exact value of all the cows in a herd, each of which is at a different period of gestation, or in a different condition or state of health, and where also the cow is affected by the way in which she is fed and cared for, by the season, by the state of the temperature, and other circumstances. The estimates are based upon what the commission thinks the cow would do when all the conditions are favorable to her development, and where she is properly fed and cared for. A record is made by the commission on the spot. An account of the qualities of each head is drawn up by the owner. Each is made at separate times, and without the knowledge of the other party. Then the two accounts are copied off into parallel columns for comparison. If the accounts agree in seventy-five per cent. out of one hundred, it certainly must be presumed the system has sufficient value to make it worthy of adoption by all farmers and breeders. As every farmer knows the yield is much influenced by the feed, the care, the exposure, and the treatment of the cows; therefore, a certain amount of allowance must be made, for these various things will so alter matters, that no one can tell to a quart, or a pound of butter, or to the week in time of milking. In fact, every farmer knows neither the owner himself, nor his man, can tell to a quart how much his cow or cows actually give, unless a daily record is kept every day of every year. For even if he does keep such a record, he will find the various circumstances named above affecting the quantities in his record. Therefore the earnest seeker after truth, comparing the statements made in the two columns, must not expect the two to tally without some variations. The true spirit with which he must examine these statements, will suggest itself in the question: Is this a system by which I can