How to Select Cows / or, The Guenon system simplified, explained, and practically applied

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:

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.

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.

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.

The commission and Mr. Durnall agree as to the best cow, selected from the first six on this list—on the one side by the marks, and on the other from his knowledge.

The Commission at Strode’s Farm.

The members of the Guenon Commission visited the dairy farm of Marshall Strode & Son, who have a large butter factory, and are celebrated for their first-class butter, and they examined seventeen head of grade dairy stock, and according to the testimony of Mr. Strode, who accompanied them in their examination, were successful in judging according to the Guenon system, fifteen cows out of seventeen examined. Viewed May 10.

Present, Messrs. Harvey, Blight, Hazard, and Edge.

Examination of Thomas M. Harvey’s Stock of Jerseys and Guernseys, May 11, 1878.

This herd is one of the finest in the State. The cows are kept in good condition, and being well fed, the yield is very large per head. Their product is first class butter, and should bring the highest price in the market.

The commission examined, in addition to the twenty-five cows on this list, Mr. Harvey’s Guernsey imported bull “Sir Champion,” which is thoroughly well marked; perhaps, the best marked bull in the country. The value of his get is, therefore, very decided. It shows most conclusively the importance of a bull from good milking stock, and that he should have a good escutcheon. The importance of a good sire to stamp his qualities upon his descendants was conclusively proved by Mr. Harvey’s younger stock. The commission examined a young bull of seven months age, which was as perfectly and beautifully marked as his sire, and as nearly the same shape escutcheon as his sire’s as could possibly be. Mr. Harvey has since sold him for $100, to Colonel R. M. Hoe.

Nos. 9½ and 9¾ prove also the gain to a herd from a well marked bull. These were yearlings of Champion’s get. No. 9½ was a great improvement upon the mother, No. 9, Carrie, of this list.

In the statements of the commission as to quantity, they have not mentioned the number of quarts, as the amounts given by most of this herd are superior to the generality, even of Guernseys; and, owing to good selection and careful handling by their owner, the commission judge that the number of quarts would be larger than usual.

In the above account will be noticed a few with the mark * which Mr. Harvey said indicates that the amount of milk given and the quality was largely increased by extra feeding.

Examination of William M. Large’s Herd, Chestnut Grove, Doylestown, Bucks County.

The commission, as represented by George Blight and Willis P. Hazard, visited the beautiful farm of William M. Large, on the afternoon of May 31—on a very rainy, unpleasant day, and making the examination of stock a very difficult duty. The stock is a valuable one of thorough-bred and grade Short-Horns and is well fed and otherwise well cared for.

Report of the Examination of the Stock of Eastburn Reeder, of Rabbit Run Stock Farm, New Hope, Bucks County, Pa.

The commission visited the farm of Eastburn Reeder on Saturday, June 1, and examined his stock of Jersey and Guernsey breeds in presence of the proprietor and a number of members of the Solebury Farmers’ Club. Mr. Reeder’s account of his herd had been drawn up and placed in the hands of J. S. Williams, Esquire, secretary of the Solebury Farmers’ Club, some ten days before the visit of the commission, and is printed herewith.

The commission was represented by George Blight and Willis P. Hazard, and part of the time by Captain J. C. Morris, of Susquehanna county, at the request of Thomas J. Edge, secretary of the State Board.

Mr. Reeder, not having made in his report any statements of the quality of the milk, except as regards the yield in butter, has sent the commission the following condensed statement of what each cow gave on May 20:

This statement of the number of quarts required to make a pound of butter from Jersey and Guernsey stock, it will be seen, carries out the conclusions of the commission, who estimated the quality of this herd, as well fed and not too long milked stock of these breeds should give a pound of butter to every nine quarts of milk.

Examination of Eastburn Reeder’s Herd.

Examination of Moses Eastburn’s Cow, Beauty.