THE FARM.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 11 August 1920, Page 4

THE FARM.

.a a JUDGING THE DAIRY COW’. 1 t EXTERNAL APPEARANCE NOT 1 RELIABLE. ! Handsome is as handsome does is a solid maxim to accept. It is as true in j the milk-yielding capacity of a dairy cow as in any other line. The saying is old that the book is not to be taken by its cover, and in the line of darying it is similarly stipulated that a cow is not to in: adjudged by her external appearance. The Danes —those butter- | makers whom we used to envy and j antagonise so much —have been enquiring into how far a cow’s out want looks can be relied on to jmfge her merits at the pail. Allowance made fur harmonious lines wedge-shape above and along—milk features such as looseness and softness ot skin. a> vail as visible evidence of productivitv from the development of udder and milk wells, ete.. these all count as nothing, or rather as something, for the ambiguous conclusion arrived at is that there is no real connection between a cow’s “harmonious lines” and iier milk yield. Still, in the search of a milker, it is worth while to keep in mind the wise matrimonial advice which adjoins not to look for money but to go where money is. The most ’ certain rule for selection recommended is to discard all search for shapes or signs of deep milking, and to adjudge milkers solely on the basis of the. actual yields given, or. if a heifer, bv the reeords her dam and sire’s dam show. Appearance is a taking on trust, though there are many headlines to guide tiiose who are know ledgahle. It comes to this, that a likely-looking heavy milker (though she possesses ail the points specified to recommend her) may prove disappointing. The proof of the pudding is the eating of it. The keeping of a cow should depend soiely on clear proof by recorded yield, whether she is profitable or not. If not. she deserves to be sc rapped ruthlessly. On the other hand, those of her stall companions who have made good at the pail should be bred from and bred from, and bred from again, until high-milk-yielding capacity is secured all round in the herd.