Chapter C: L. Sharpless on the Escutcheon (1)

We extract from our book on “The Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney Cow,” some remarks on the escutcheon, by Charles L. Sharpless, of Philadelphia. We consider him one of the best judges, a most intelligent breeder, and he has paid the highest price ever given for a Jersey cow in this country. The portraits of Duchess, Rosa, Black Bess, Tiberia, and the bull, Comet of M., bear out our assertion.

“There is no point in judging a cow so little understood as
the escutcheon. The conclusion of almost every one is, that
her escutcheon is good, if there be a broad band of up-running
hair from the udder to the vulva, and around it—see Fig. 1.
These cows, with the broad vertical escutcheon, are nearly
always parallel cows; that is, with bodies long, but not large,
and with the under line parallel with the back. Their thighs
are thin, and the thigh escutcheon shows on the inside of the
thigh, rather than on its rear.

“Next comes the wedge-shaped cow, with the body shorter, but
very large, deep in the flank, and very capacious. This form
does not usually exhibit the broad vertical escutcheon, running
up to the vulva, but with a broader thigh may exhibit a thigh
escutcheon, which is preferable to the other, thus—see Fig. 2.

“In both vertical and thigh mirrors, where the hair runs down,
intruding on the udder, (as low as above the dotted lines,) as
in Figs. 3 and 4, it damages the escutcheon. If you find a cow
with the hair all running down, and between the thighs—that is,
with no up-running hair—stamp her as a cipher for milk-yielding.

“The artist has made the udders to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 the
same size, while in reality they will vary according to the
escutcheon.

“There are times when the udder of a cow, with an escutcheon
like Fig. 4, will be enlarged by non-milking, for the purpose
of deception. It is always safer to judge by the escutcheon,
rather than by the large size of the udder.

“The escutcheons of the best cows—those yielding the most and
continuing the longest—will be found to be those which conform
to Fig. 2. [Mr. S. alludes to the selvage: one of the best, and
common among the best cows. H.]

“The vertical escutcheon of Fig. 1, would not injure it; but if
that ornamental feature has to be at the expense of the thigh
escutcheon, Fig. 2 is best as it is.

“Whenever an escutcheon is accompanied by a curl on each
hind-quarter of the udder, it indicates a yield of the highest
order....

“So far we have noticed only the rear escutcheon, or that
which represents the two hind-quarters of the udder. The two
front-quarters are just as important, and should be capacious,
and run well forward under the body—see A. If the udder,
in front, be concave, or cut up as in B, indicating small
capacity, it represents reduced yield.

“This front or level escutcheon is distinctly marked in the
young heifer or bull, and can be seen by laying the animal on
its back. The udder hair under the body all runs backward,
commencing at the forward line of the escutcheon—see dotted
lines in Figs. 6, 7, 8. This dividing line is very perceptible,
from the fact that the hair in front of it all runs forward
towards the head of the animal, while the escutcheon, or udder
hair, all runs backward over the forward quarters of the udder,
around and beyond the teats, and ceases at the markings of the
rear escutcheon, on and between the thighs.

“The breadth and extent forward of this front escutcheon,
indicates the capacity in the mature animal, of the front
quarters of her udder. In some cases this front escutcheon
will be found of twice the extent that it is in others, and is
evidence of that much more yield. The dimensions on Figs. 6, 7,
8, are actual measurements—the first two of heifers, and the
last of a bull. If Fig. 7 represents four quarts as the yield
per day of the front quarters, Fig. 6 will represent eight,
thus, if the rear yield is the same, say four quarts in each
cow, the total yield of Fig. 6 will be twelve quarts, while
that of Fig. 7 is but eight. This examination enables one to
see the size of the teats and their distance apart, and to test
the looseness and softness of the udder skin. It is marked
precisely the same in bulls, see Fig. 8, and can be easily
examined at any age between one and ten months.

“Udders of all shapes hold milk, and some homely ones hold
a large quantity. B, C, D, and E, at a glance explain their
deficiencies, both of shape, lack of capacity, and bad style of
teats. In udder A, we have the perfect shape....

“Many think that the escutcheon of the bull is of but little
moment, so that he is a good-looker. So far is this from being
the case, that a bull, with a mirror like Fig. 4. or worse,
will stamp his escutcheon on, and to that extent damage his
daughters, out of cows with escutcheons as choice as Fig. 2.
In this way the daughters of some of the best cows come very
ordinary, while, if you use a bull marked like Fig. 2, he will
make poor escutcheons better, and will improve the best. His
injury or benefit will be doubled, according to the escutcheon
markings under his body in front of his scrotum. Hence the
importance of the dam of a bull being unexceptionable in her
udder and escutcheon. Her qualities, inherited by her son, will
be transmitted to his daughters.

[Mr. Sharpless’ bull Comet of M. is one of the finest Jersey bulls we ever saw, and his escutcheon is unexceptionable, being a perfect curveline, the one most commonly found on bulls.]

“While careful as to escutcheons, we must not neglect the
other essential features of a good cow—the buckskin hide, the
rich-colored skin, and the fine bone. Let the hair be soft and
thickly set, and let the skin be mellow. This latter quality is
easily determined by grasping between the thumb and forefinger
the skin at the rear of the ribs, or the double thickness at
the base of the flank that joins the stifle joint to the body,
or that on the inside of the rump-bone at the setting-on of
the tail. Let the teats be well apart; let them yield a full
and free stream, and be large enough to fill the hand without
the necessity in milking of pulling them between the thumb
and forefingers. And let us ever keep in mind that the large
yielder must be well fed.”

Those who condemn Jersey cows as small yielders of milk and butter, should listen to the story of “Rosa” as told by her owner, C. L. Sharpless. She is five years old, is solid creamy fawn, and, combined with great volume and bone, she is neat in the head and neck, and with fine legs. Her dam was a small mouse-colored cow, and her sire’s dam a small fawn-colored, neither of which would give over twelve quarts.

“We found we were making a good deal of butter, and as ‘Rosa’
looked superbly, we determined to test her butter quality. We
fed her per day twenty pounds of hay, eight quarts of meal, and
four quarts of carrots. The meal was a mixture of good wheat
bran and cornmeal, in the proportion of four bushels of the
former to one bushel of the latter. Her yield the first day was
sixteen quarts, the second day fifteen and a half quarts, the
third day sixteen quarts, and the next morning eight quarts;
being in all seven milkings, or half the week. Her milk was
kept separate; was skimmed after standing thirty-six hours, and
made six and three fourths pounds of butter, or thirteen and a
half pounds for the week.

“As you place Rosa and Duchess side by side there are some
points of agreement and of difference that are of interest to
notice. They are both wedge-shaped, with large body—Duchess
the more bony, but Rosa with the greater rear volume, (broader
hips, &c.) They both have neat heads and necks, and fine bone.
Duchess is, in winter, smoke-color, with brilliant white, but
not with black points. She has yellow hoofs and skin, and
her udder is rich yellow. Rosa has yellow hoofs, and yellow
inside her ears, but a pale skin and udder, and would be
called a butter cow inferior to Duchess, and yet she has just
proved herself one half pound greater. The color of it is the
deepest—no coloring matter being used. This upsets the theory
that a yellow skin is essential for deep-colored butter.
Perhaps a safer way to put it is, that though a rich yellow
skin is evidence of butter quality, yet equally good quality
may come from a pale skin, provided the cow has yellow inside
her ears.

“Again, as to vertical or rear escutcheons both these cows
exhibit, the broad part diminishes as it rises, until, when
within six to nine inches of the vulva, it is reduced to the
breadth of not over an inch wide. Thus they agree in their rear
escutcheons, and they agree also in udders of great capacity,
these being deep and broad, and running well forward under the
body.

“There is a point on which they differ. The hair on Duchess
is soft and furry as a mole; that of Rosa is fairly fine, but
still hair.

“So that in a word one can say soft hair, a large escutcheon,
and a yellow skin are desirable, but there may be choice cows
not conspicuous, for either.

“To show how we sometimes let our best animals slip, I will add
that when Rosa was a heifer I was tempted to part with her for
what seemed a great price—$500. In about two weeks she had a
heifer calf, for which her owner was offered $150. When three
years old she had a second heifer, which he sold for $180;
and when four years old she had a third heifer calf, which
he sold for $100. He then sold his place and all his stock,
and I bought her at public sale for $375 for her beauty. Her
pale skin deceived me as to her butter quality, and her, as I
thought, deficient escutcheon misled me as to her large yield.
She now, as a five-year old, has her fourth calf, which is a
bull, and some two months old.

“In giving above her yield, I gave also her feed. Such is her
constitution and appetite that I think she would have eaten
half as much more, and in that way her yield might have been
very much increased. It was good enough as it was, particularly
as there have been choice cows so forced that, though the
premium was won, the cow was lost. The winter yield, on dry
feed, of sixteen quarts is considered equivalent to eighteen on
grass.”

DESCRIPTION OF THE CLASSES AND ORDERS.

Prepared by W. P. HAZARD, _Secretary of the Pennsylvania Guenon Commission_.

In the following descriptions of the ten classes, and their sub-division into six orders each, we give the quantity as stated, for a large-sized cow. Not thinking it worth while to enter so minutely into his sub-divisions of high, medium, and low cows. For instance, to class one, order one, he gives to the high cow twenty-four litres, which is about equal to our twenty-four quarts here; the litre being exactly two and one eighth wine pints. To the medium cow he gives nineteen quarts, and to the low cow, fourteen quarts, per day. The size of his high cow is five hundred and fifty to six hundred and fifty pounds, _dressed weight_; the medium, three hundred and twenty-five to four hundred and fifty pounds and the low, one hundred and ten to two hundred and twenty-five pounds. As most of our cows will range with the high cows, we have adopted the scale suitable to the size, only the reader who practices the system must keep in mind that the larger and more developed the cow, the more she will be likely to give than the cow of smaller size.

First Class. The Flanders Cow.

Cows with this escutcheon are the most seldom found, except among the most abundant milkers. In the first order they give twenty quarts per day, in the height of their flow; that is to say, from the time they have calved until they are pregnant again. Then they diminish, little by little, until their next calving. It is best to dry them off from four to six weeks before calving, to give them a needed rest, and it improves the calf.

Cows of the first class have a soft udder, with fine hair on it, rising until it blends with similar hair growing upward on the thighs, above the hock, and widening on the thick part of the thigh, then narrowing, like in the engraving, until it reaches the vulva, and being about two inches on each side of it. The inner parts of the thigh, and the vertical mirror are usually of a yellowish or nankeen color, with dark spots on them, from which can be detached the dandruff. There are two ovals on the udder, of fine short hair.

The second order of the first class are similar to the first, but the escutcheon is smaller; and on the right side of the vulva is a tuft of descending hair about two and one half inches long and one and one half inches broad, and there is but one oval on the udder. They yield eighteen quarts of milk for a period of eight months.

The third order of the first class is still smaller, and not quite so decided in shape. It has also a semi-circular tuft below the vulva of small size, of descending hair, rather shining and of brighter color. There is either only one oval on the udder, or generally none.

Cows of the third order yield sixteen quarts, and milk for six months.

The fourth order of the first class, besides being still smaller, has narrower thigh escutcheons, and lower down; also the tuft under the vulva is quite long, about five or six inches, which sometimes make the vertical escutcheon terminate in a fork. This tuft has more lustre and is whiter than the hair around it. There is also a thigh tuft of half oval shape on the right of the escutcheon, about five inches high.

Cows of the fourth order yield twelve quarts a day, and milk five months.

The Bastard Flanders have two marks which distinguish them: 1. Some have on the vertical escutcheon an oval tuft, about the middle of it; this tuft has descending hair, is about three inches long and two inches wide, and the lustre of the hair makes it appear as if it was whiter than that around it. The larger the oval the sooner the milk will fail, and the smaller it is the longer will she milk. 2. Other Bastards of this class are distinguished by the ascending and descending hair interfering with each other on the outlines of the vertical escutcheon, looking feathery, or bristling like the beard of wheat. The skin is fine and reddish, but there is no dandruff. The larger the escutcheon, and the finer the hair, the more abundant the milk; but when the hair is coarse, long, and thin, the yield is small. Both kinds of Bastards of this class have every other appearance of the best cows. And all Bastards of the first classes have the two ovals on the udder.

Second Class. Left Flanders.

The cows of this class are very similar to those of the first class, though their yield is rather less. The vertical escutcheon is entirely to the left of the vulva, and the thigh escutcheon on the right is broader than that on the left. By comparison with the first class, these will be seen to be very similar, but in each order smaller; therefore, it will not be necessary to describe them separately, but simply to state the yield. Cows of the first order of the second class will yield eighteen quarts, and milk eight months.

The second order of the second class have the lip-shaped tuft to the left of the vulva, and have one oval on the left of the udder. Cows of this order give sixteen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order has the same shaped escutcheon, but more contracted, and the lip-shaped tuft is larger and whiter. Cows of this order give fourteen quarts, and milk six months.

The fourth order has two invasions of the thigh escutcheon by the down-growing hair, a semi-oval one on the right, and a triangular one on the left. These always indicate a reduced quantity of milk.

Cows of the fourth order give ten quarts, and milk five months.

The escutcheon of the Bastard Left Flanders is known by this peculiarity. The developments are larger and more irregular on the top of the vertical escutcheon, and to the left of the vulva; on the right is the ischiatic tuft, quite large, from which the hair is diverted in an almost horizontal direction.

Third Class.—Selvage.

The escutcheon of this class commences above the hock, runs up on the thighs quite high, thence it descends somewhat from both sides to the vertical portion, which rises, gradually narrowing to the vulva.

The first order of the third class has an udder with soft skin, and fine downy hair, which, as well as the thighs, are of a yellow or nankeen cast of color. There are two ovals on the udder. Cows of the first order give nineteen quarts, and milk eight months, and often will milk nine months, not going dry unless made to.

The second order is similar to the first, only of reduced size; it has a tuft to the left of the vulva; and only one oval on the udder on the left side; the hair of the escutcheon is generally more glossy than that around it. Cows of the second order give seventeen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order escutcheon curves downward on each side of the vertical mirror, which rises narrowing to a point at the vulva; to the right and left of the vulva are tufts, the one on the left being the longest; on the left of the udder is sometimes an oval. Cows of the third order give fifteen quarts, and milk six months.

The escutcheon of the fourth order is of similar shape, but still smaller; but the tuft on left of the vulva is much longer than on the right, and there is no oval on the udder.

Cows of the fourth order give twelve quarts, and milk five months.

The bastards of the third class have two tufts, one on the right, and one on the left of the vulva, about four to five inches long, and one and one half inches wide. The smaller they are, and the finer the hair on them, the less rapid is the loss of milk. But if they are large and have coarse hair, and are pointed at each end, they prove the milk to be poor and serous, and the cow will fail rapidly.

The Fourth Class. Curveline.

The Curveline cows are very plenty, and are of a very good grade, approaching the first class. The escutcheon is broader than the last two classes, in the upper part. Their skin is of delicate texture, and nankeen shade of color on the escutcheon. The higher and broader the curved line rises toward the vulva, which it never reaches, the better it is. There are two ovals on the udder. Cows of the first order of the fourth class give 19 quarts, and milk eight months, and sometimes up to their next calf.

The second order have the same shape escutcheon, but more contracted. There is but one, and sometimes no oval on the udder. On the left of the vulva is a small tuft.

Cows of the second order give seventeen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order has a smaller escutcheon, with two tufts by the vulva, the left longer than the right, about four inches by one inch wide. Sometimes an oval on the left side of the udder.

Cows of the third order give fifteen quarts, and milk six months.

The fourth order has a much smaller escutcheon, reaching just above the udder. The two tufts are larger alongside the vulva, and the hairs bristle to each side. On the right, the down-growing hair intrudes somewhat upon the escutcheon.

Cows of the fourth order give twelve quarts, and milk five months.

The Bastards of the fourth class have a fine appearance of escutcheon, but they are known by the tufts alongside the vulva. If they have coarse bristly hair, and of large size, say four to five inches long, and one and a half in width, they indicate a rapid loss of milk as soon as pregnant, particularly if they are pointed at each end.

The Fifth Class. The Bicorn.

The escutcheons of this class in the vertical portion end below the vulva in an indented shape, presenting the appearance of two upright horns. Their udders are of a saffron color, delicate, with fine, soft hair, and have much dandruff.

The first order has two tufts of small size along the vulva, and two ovals on the udder. They give seventeen quarts, and milk eight months.

The second order are similar to the first, only smaller escutcheons, the vulva tufts are longer, and there is but one oval on the udder, on the left. The right horn of the escutcheon is smaller than the left one.

Cows of the second order give fifteen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order have similar escutcheons to the last, but smaller, while the vulva tufts are larger, there are no ovals, and there is an invasion of the descending hair on the right side. The right is two inches shorter than the left.

Cows of the third order give thirteen quarts, and milk six months.

The fourth order have the same shaped escutcheon, but smaller, with two tufts alongside the vulva, larger than those on the last. On the right of the escutcheon is a triangular cut in the shape, made by encroachments of the down-growing hair.

Cows of the fourth order give ten quarts, and milk five months.

The Bastards of the fifth class have the full escutcheon of the first or second orders, but with two large tufts alongside the vulva, which, according to their size, and more or less pointed shape, and fine or coarse hair, indicate the more or less stoppage of the flow of milk.

The Sixth Class. Double Selvage.

The escutcheons of Double Selvage cows differ from those of Selvage, or the third class, in that the escutcheon is marked in its whole length by a strip of hair descending and dividing it into two equal portions. It is bordered in its whole length and at the extremity by a double line of ascending hair, which extends the escutcheon up to the vulva. Otherwise it is like the selvage escutcheon.

The first order cows have a fine udder, soft, and covered with a silky down; and its skin is yellowish or nankeen. Cows of the first order give eighteen quarts, and milk full eight months.

The second order have a similar escutcheon, but smaller, and the separating strip ends higher up. Cows of the second order give sixteen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order have a still more reduced escutcheon, the descending strip terminating at the udder.

Cows of the third order give fourteen quarts, and milk six months.

The fourth order have an escutcheon more broken in appearance, the two side lines of the selvage terminate half way to the vulva, and end off in lines of a feathery appearance, the hair is coarser and more furry.

Cows of the fourth order give ten quarts, and milk five months.

Bastards of the sixth class have the escutcheon similar to the first class, but the selvage lines terminate on each side of the vulva in tufts of coarse and bristly hair; the larger and coarser they are, the sooner the milk will fail.

The Seventh Class. Demijohn.

The first order of this class has the skin of the escutcheon of yellowish color. The udder is fine, and covered with a silky down to the inside of the thighs; and the dandruff is soft and oily to the touch. The shape is similar to the selvage somewhat, only the vertical mirror rises broader and straighter, and ends half way up to the vulva, cut square off. The broader and higher this part is, the better the escutcheon. The escutcheon is not so high up on the thighs as the previous classes. There are two ovals on the udder, and two small tufts of fine hair alongside the vulva.

Cows of the first order give seventeen quarts, and milk eight months.

The second order have the escutcheon lower down and, of course, smaller in every way. There are two tufts alongside the vulva, the left one as large as in the first order, (two and a half inches,) the right one only half as long. There is one oval on the left of the udder.

Cows of the second order give fifteen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order escutcheon is of different shape, the lines converging downwards from the vertical mirror, which is short, and cut off square. The right side frequently has a curved line from the descending hair invading it. The vulva tufts are longer than in the second order.

Cows of the third order give thirteen quarts, and milk six months.

The fourth order has the escutcheon still smaller. The tufts alongside the vulva are not so plain, but the hair is coarse and bristly. There is a triangular invasion on the right of the escutcheon.

Cows of the fourth order give ten quarts and milk five months.

The Bastards of this class have a good escutcheon, but the tufts are large and of coarse, bristly hair, and will fail according to the size.

The Eighth Class. Square Escutcheon.

The first order of this class have the same yellowish color on the escutcheon as other first orders; the udder is flexible, covered with a short, fine down. The escutcheon is much of the shape of the Demijohns, but the vertical, as it rises, branches square off to the left, and ascends, straight and narrow, to the left side of the vulva. There are two ovals on the udder. The more the square approaches the vulva, and the finer the hair, the greater quantity is there of milk. Cows of the first order give seventeen quarts, and milk eight months.

The second order have a similar escutcheon, only smaller in every way. They have two ovals on the udder, and a small tuft to the right of the vulva.

Cows of the second order give fifteen quarts, and milk seven months.

The third order have the escutcheon still smaller; the lines curving downward at the corners; one oval on the udder, and the tuft to the right of the vulva, larger and of coarser hair.

Cows of the third order give thirteen quarts, and milk six months.

The fourth order have the escutcheon much smaller, the square is much lower, and the upper part of it is formed of bristly hair, and feathery looking; as is also the tuft to the right. On the right side of the escutcheon is an invasion of triangular shape.

Cows of the fourth order give ten quarts, and milk five months.

The Bastards of the eighth class are distinguished from those of the first order by the tuft on the right, which is of coarse and bristly hair, and the square terminates also in the same hair.

The Ninth Class. Limousines.

The escutcheons of this class, in ascending toward the vulva, do so in the shape of a spire, but stop short about half way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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 judge of the value and quantities of a cow correctly? Is this a system that will tell me the points of a cow, good or bad, more correctly than by any other method? Let the candid inquirer weigh these statements, and think if he knows of any method by which he can go into a herd and surely pick out the best cows, and leave the poor ones to those who judge not by this system. Every farmer has his own mode of judging, but take the shrewdest and most practiced, can he avoid often the bastards? What the commission find they can do, is that in a large majority of the percentage of cases, they will give a good estimate of the qualities of any animal. Their opinions of the time a cow will go, is based upon what they think should be the treatment of all cows, viz.: that every cow should have a rest of from four to six weeks, at least.

Was awarded First Prize as the BEST Cow at the Centennial, 1876.]

The Commission at Barney’s Farm.

The members of the Guenon commission, visited the farm of John B. Barney, on the 9th of May, 1878, and examined twelve cows, mostly Grade Durhams, Grade Jerseys, and farm stock, and they were uniformly successful in judging of said stock, with some difference of opinion on two of them.

“I was present at the examination of twelve cows of my herd,
and think the committee were so uniformly successful in
judging of the merits of the different cows, with such slight
variations of opinion between us, as to increase my belief in
the Guenon system being of great advantage to the farmers in
selecting stock.

JOHN B. BARNEY.
_Chadd’s Ford, Chester county_.”

_May 16, 1878._

The Commission at Sharpless’ Farm.

The commission visited the fine farm and herd of Jersey cows of Samuel J. Sharpless, at Street Road station, West Chester railroad, May 10. Present. Messrs. Harvey, Blight, Hazard, and Thomas J. Edge.