Conformation of the Cow as Related to Milk Secretion, Jersey Registry of Merit.

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the relation borne by eight body measurements and age to the cow's milk-secreting ability. The analysis is first presented from the viewpoint of conformation as related to milk secretion without regard to age. The data are then utilised to determine the relation of conformation to milk secretion when age is considered. In the last section we have attempted to consider conformation as a whole and to relate this to milk secretion. Defining the ideal as quantity production of milk or butter-fat the following points of conformation are important. First, the cow should be of better than average weight for her breed and age; second, she should be of good wedge-shaped form particularly in the region of the shoulders; third, her milk veins should be of good size; and fourth, her udder should be of good size and quality. Time has brought about the inclusion in the animal husbandry text-books of many other points asserted on a priori grounds to be of significance in determining the cow's milk secreting capacity. The effect of several of these points on milk secretion has been analysed in these data, the results showing them to be without significance.

A study of the lactation and growth of hill sheep in their native environment and under lowland conditions

“…(6) Body weight. McDowell (1930), Gowen (1933), Edwards (1936), Gaines, Davis & Morgan (1947), Lauprecht & Doring (1950) and Bailey & Broster (1954) are amongst those who have shown that in cattle within a breed milk yield tends to be positively related to body weight. In non-dairy sheep, Bonsma (1939), Wallace (1948) and Thomson & Thomson (1953) have illustrated a similar relationship within breeds of sheep.…”

Identifying the Most Important Linear Body Depth Traits Associated with Milk Yield in Dairy Cattle

“…The depth dimension of cattle bodies is habitually pertinent with assorted prolific nature. As precedents, neck depth is a decisive linear type trait to specify cattle growth rates (SAMPURNA et al 2014), chest depth has a little tie-in with milk yield aptitude positively (GOWEN 1933); meanwhile, body depth has a moderate genetic association with the milk yield, fat milk percentage, milk protein percentage, and somatic cell score (XUE et al 2023), as the last is the udder depth also has a significant correlation with the somatic cell count and the milk yield in unison (JUOZAITIENE et al 2004). Indubitably, a manifold of meritorious features is intended concerning the linear type traits, such as longevity characteristics (WILLIAMS et al 2022), reproduction traits (MANDAL et al 2022), udder-feet health properties (ROGERS 1996), estimated feed efficiency attributes (PARKE Jr et al 1999), and even animal behaviour aspects (HIENDLEDER et al 2003).…”

III. Genetics

“…CONFORMATION. Conformation in relation to milk production is always a subject that has fascination for those who study the inheritance of milk yield, if only because there is a Jour, of Dairy Research vi 18 possibility that it may lead to some means of phenotypic selection of young stock. Go wen (23) has continued his studies on this subject, and deals with American Jersey Registry of Merit cows. He has correlated yield and butterfat yield with size and various other measurements.…”