MILKING SHORTHORNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 20

MILKING SHORTHORNS.

TRUE TYPE DESCRIBED. The ideal pedigree milking Shorthorn, or dairy Shorthorn, as the breed is called in Great Britain, is a general utility or dual-purpose cow, capable of producing 60001b. to 70001b. of milk in a lactation, and when dry of covering her frame with level flesh so that she may finally sell for a satisfactory price to the fattener or butcher. An English authority has given the following admirable description of the true dairy Shorthorn. He stated that " the cow should be straight in her lines, both on top and underneath wide and deep, especially in the bock tincl hindquarters, with well-sprung ribs. It is no serious fault,if she i s ' ess thick on top of the shoulder blades than a cow bred purely for beef. The shoulders should lie well into the back, and there must bo no coarseness at the points. Ihe flesh should be evenly laid on without patchiness about the rump or hips,- and thrf tail well set in. The head is an important feature; it should he effeminate, the eye prominent and placid, the muzzle Lroad and clear in colour, the horns not coarse, and with a delicate curve. ihe skin should be soft and pliable, udder capacious and carried well up, beginning high between the thighs, and running well under the belly. When the cow has been milked out or when she is dry the udder should have a silky touch, with an nhundance of loose and thin skin. Teats should be a fair length, set well apart and evenly placed, (he escutcheon well defined, and the milk veins prominent with a large cavity. Such a cow as /that described, with the possession of a g?v and stylish carriage, whether she be red. white or roan, is to me of all animals the most fascinating." In England i.Tie dairy Shorthorn has retained its position against all other breeds, and gained many new supporters. Tins is not- surprising when the high level of milk production and the dual-purpose character of the breed arc consideicd.