Milk Escutcheon

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1911, Page 4

Milk Escutcheon

—•—• WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS REGARDED IN THE JUDGMENT OF CAPACITY OF A COW. The escutcheon or milk mirror was first discovered by Mr Guenon, a Frenchman. Tn studying the anatomy of cows in regard to the production of milk, he concluded that the anilk was dependent upon the circulation of blood to a- certain extent and that tine large artery that supplies the 'blood to the region of the udder must be in proportion to the amount of milk produced. This has been T>orne out by later studies given the matter by learned men. This artery also supplies blood to the skin a/round the udder and the posterior region, and in consequence the hair on these parts is soft and short.

If a person would stand behind a Jersey cow and yholding her tail to one side, study the bind portion of the animal, lie will soon notice two lines, made by the hair growing in different directions. These lines commence near the perineum and extend downward and outward to a point on the thighs, th'en turn sharply and pass inside the legs, oxtending well under the belly. The two lines form a shield in shape, from which the name escutcheon is taken. For a good milker this escutcheon should*be large, wide at its corners where the hair lines change directions, and should extend well towards the front quarters. It 'is generally thought by those •using this syste-m that the width of the shield at its widest point denotes the amount of milk, and the length the deep milking quality of the animal. That is, a cow showinw great width of shield -ami tihe ■lines joining just forward of the udder, would give a large amount of milk, but would be more apt to ■go dry sooner than a cow tevang the lines extending well under the body. Many have used this test with,.very goodi results on Jerseys and Holsteins, but it Oias been found hard to discern on the Duriiams aJid some otliiar. hreeds, owing , to;the (hair on some cows being so nearly the same, colour all over. .