In his original plan, Guenon divided these different shapes into
eight classes, each of which was sub-divided into eight orders. As he
progressed in his investigations, he afterwards added two more classes,
and reduced the orders to six in each class. These he supposed would
cover all cases which might come up for examination. He also divided
cows into three grades, which, in accordance with their _size_, he
styled high, low, and medium. From this it will be noted that Guenon, in
classifying cows, was governed first by the class, second by the order
in the class, and finally by their size. These _classes_ he divided and
named as follows:
1st class, or Flanders.
2d ” ” Left Flanders.
3d ” ” Selvage.
4th ” ” Curveline.
5th ” ” Bicorn.
6th ” ” Double Selvage.
7th ” ” Demijohn.
8th ” ” Square Escutcheon.
9th ” ” Limousine.
10th ” ” Horizontal.
The ten orders in each of these classes were simply designated by their
appropriate numerals. Each _class_ was better than the succeeding one,
and each _order_ better than the following one of the _same_ class, but
might be better than the preceding order of the _next_ class.
Of this seeming multiplicity of classes, orders, and sizes, Chalkley
Harvey, one of the commission appointed to test the system, writes thus:
“Now this may seem somewhat discouraging to your readers, but
with all due respect to Guenon, to whom all honor and praise
should be accorded for his brilliant discovery, I think that
it may be so simplified that every farmer, dairyman, and dealer
can learn it all in a short time, and may find the study
quite interesting. I began it laboriously, supposing that a
mastery of all the details was necessary to make it of any
use, but more than twenty years of constant application in
practice has simplified it to my mind, and has added a little,
I think, to the original discovery. The substance of Guenon’s
discovery is that the milking qualities of any cow, of any
breed, are indicated by an outward sign that all may see and
easily understand. The hair on a cow, as on other animals,
grows downward on the hind-quarters, but there is an exception
to this rule on the back part of the udder, where it usually
grows upward. The first lesson for a beginner is to notice this
fact. Let him stand behind a quiet cow, and rub the hair on the
udder both ways until he sees or feels just what I mean. Guenon
called the surface that is covered by this upward growth the
escutcheon; others have called it the milk-mirror; but this is
no improvement in any respect, and I shall name it as Guenon
did, for there is no real objection to that name, and there
is serious objection to making confusion by calling the same
thing by different names. The escutcheon, then, is that surface
on the cow’s udder where the hair grows upward. But it is not
confined to the udder, it extends upward above the udder, often
to the vulva, and outward upon the thighs on both sides of the
udder. (See Flanders cow, class first, order first.) These
escutcheons are different in size, in shape, and in quality,
(quality means the quality of the skin, and of the hair growing
on it,) and these differences indicate the different milking
qualities of the cows, including quantity and quality of
milk, and the length of time they will give milk after being
with calf. On the edges of the escutcheon where the upward
and the downward growths of hair meet, a feather is formed,
and this is most conspicuous on the back part of the thighs
where escutcheons extend that wide. If the hair is long, as it
generally is in winter time, the observer can define the limits
of the escutcheon better by applying his hand, and smoothing
the hair to its natural place. He will now perceive that the
hair on the escutcheon is shorter and softer than elsewhere,
as well as turned upward in its growth, and sometimes nearly
resembles fur.
“Let us now particularly consider the shapes and sizes of
these escutcheons. There is one general shape to which they
conform, and that is that they are wider below than above, and
at or near the top of the udder they narrow in abruptly; some
continue up as far as the vulva, and even above it, and others
but a little distance above the udder. The size and shape of
this upper part of the escutcheon is of less importance than
that of the lower part, but both must be considered—the larger
the escutcheon the better. All great milkers have very large
escutcheons. In large ones the upturned growth often begins
on the belly, in front of the udder, extends along between
the teats and up the back part of the udder, over the whole
width. Indeed, the udder is not wide enough for it, and it
encroaches on the thighs, where we may find the hair having
an upward growth on them, inside next the udder, beginning
not far above the hock joints, and running up as high as the
wide part of the escutcheon extends up the thighs, and which
often terminates with corresponding curls in the hair at the
outlines, and the higher up and wider these are apart the
better. Though the extension of the escutcheon to the front
part of the udder on the belly has been mentioned, that is not
a matter of practical interest in ordinary cases. All that
needs to be studied is plain to be seen by standing behind
the cow. When the escutcheon is small, it does not reach the
thighs, and often does not cover the whole of the back part
of the udder. These differences in size can be distinguished
at the first lesson taken in the cow-yard, and when that has
been done, the next thing is to consider their shapes. A good
escutcheon is symmetrical. The feathers on the two thighs
are at equal distance from the middle line of the body, and
extend up to equal heights on the back parts of the thighs.
A broad and high escutcheon, (speaking now only of the lower
broad part of it,) that is _alike on both sides_, certainly
indicates a superior milker. There is nearly always another
sign accompanying such an escutcheon, and that is one or two
_ovals_ just above the hind teats, on which a _fine_ coat of
hair grows downward. These may be large or small, may be one or
two, and may be alike in size, or unlike, but they are always
good signs. Two are better than one, and the larger and more
uniform they are the better; they are almost always present on
large and symmetrical escutcheons. No escutcheon is ever first
class if it has not one or both, and one, at least, of good
size. What constitutes ‘good size’ will be better learned by a
few observations than can be taught by inches, and I want to
leave something to the ingenuity of the learner, to make the
study interesting.
“Now, let us consider the shape and size of that part of the
escutcheon which I have spoken of as the upper part; that is,
the narrow portion that has its base on the top of the lower
and wider portions, and runs up toward the vulva. Sometimes,
though very rarely, this does not exist at all. Sometimes it
is broad, and extends all the way up, with perfect symmetry.
Sometimes it terminates in a curved line, at a greater or less
distance up; and, indeed, it may be seen of almost any shape.
As a sign of excellence, the larger and more symmetrical it
is, the better—but a good _lower_ part of the escutcheon is
the main thing, and that, as a sign, can hardly be vitiated
by any imperfection of the upper part. When the lower part is
very good, there is usually uniformity in the part. A poor
escutcheon is one that is small, or that is imperfect in form.”
The Progress of His System.
With his mind keenly alive to the pursuit of his investigations, he soon
perceived the difference in the shape of these quirls or marks in the
hair. We can imagine how, when he saw any cow with the same escutcheon
as his own had, he would eagerly and closely question the owner, and
then make his comparisons and deductions. Then, again, when he would see
variations from his cow’s escutcheon, whether larger or smaller, though
of similar shape, how he would study them over! When he would ask of the
owner such questions, directed by his knowledge of the cow’s marks, the
owner would stare, and think how the lad could know so well of _his_ cow.
And then his secret exultation when the answers showed him that he had
judged aright! We can imagine this young enthusiast going on, from step
to step, filling up his leisure with his acquisitions of his new theory,
which was becoming fact, and growing into a system.
From his first step of discovering the dandruff, its scarcity or
abundance, to his noticing the great diversity existing among cows as to
the shape of the bearded ears or quirls, and being convinced these shapes
were the signs by which to distinguish cows, and then to make sure that
the same mark might always be relied upon as a positive sign of the same
perfection or defect; were all steps in the discovery that engrossed
his whole mind. He gave up his trade, traveled about, visiting cattle
markets, fairs, and stables. Conversing and cross-questioning all whom
he could; fixing the results in his mind, and getting the classification
shaped out. He talked with farmers, dealers, and veterinary men,
ascertained their modes of judging of the points of an animal, and found
they were all by their own favorite signs and marks. One looked to the
udder, the horns, the hide, or the shape; others to the hair, the veins,
or something else; but none judged by the signs which he had found
out. All were uncertain. The most the best judges could do would be to
guess rightly, perhaps, three times out of five, but none could tell
how long a cow would milk. Perfecting his judgment he would visit the
same places and the same cows several times in a year, to see how nature
was operating upon the animals, and their changes of character in the
different periods of gestation, their treatment and food.
Of course, he soon began to put his theories to practical value, and he
dealt in cattle on his own account. This brought before him cattle from
Holland, Switzerland, Brittany, and other countries. This improved his
opportunities by proving to him that, no matter what country gave them
birth, all individuals possessing the same marks belonged to the same
class and the same orders; in short, that nature acted through uniform
laws.
Imperfections and Tufts.
Variations would arise, from crossing two animals with different
escutcheons, from some defect in marking at the birth, from lack of
development, or from those freaks that nature sometimes plays. They
always prove stumbling-blocks in forming the judgment on some animals,
and furnish texts to the opponents of the system.
As Guenon continued his examinations, he found that his classes did not
afford a place for all animals, or rather that there were occasionally
to be found cows whose escutcheons while apparently belonging to one of
these classes, had at the same time, certain distinguished features which
he styled imperfect escutcheons. These Mr. Hazard, the secretary of the
commission, described as follows:
“The perfect escutcheon of each Class is the one which is in Order No. 1.
All variations from this are rated lower in the scale; these variations
may consist of a smaller size, therefore, the escutcheon would not be so
broad or high upon the thighs, nor so broad upon the vertical portion;
they may consist of the lack of ovals, which would place them below the
first order; they may consist of blemishes, which are tufts of hair
growing alongside of the vulva, or below it; or they may consist of
strongly marked imperfections, which may be cuts or slices taken out of
the escutcheon; or, coarse, harsh, wiry hair on the back and upper part
of the udder. Finally, they may be so decided as to place the animal
among the bastards.”
Of the tufts, Guenon says all tufts encroaching on the escutcheon
diminish its value, except the oval ones on the udder; that is to say,
they indicate a diminished aptitude for yielding milk. The size and
location of these tufts make the animals descend one or more orders in
the classification. It is, therefore, important to attend to all the
patches of descending hairs which lessen the size of the escutcheon,
whether these occur in the middle of it or form indentations on the
sides. These indentations, partly concealed by the folds of the skin,
are sometimes perceived with difficulty. Many cows, which at first
glance appear to be well-marked, on close examination display their
deficiencies, and want of this scrutiny often causes mistakes in
estimating the value of cows, and thus the system suffers.
Guenon says the cause of the defects, as exhibited by the tufts on the
thighs, is that the veins situated beneath, on either side of the belly,
have a peculiarity; that they are contracted, and there is a small
opening for it where it pierces the abdominal muscles.
Sometimes there is an intermingling of two forms of escutcheons. This
depends upon the crossing between a cow of one class and a bull of
another. This is one of the difficulties to be encountered in precisely
estimating the value of the animal.
Guenon classified the seven tufts, into two kinds: Those on which the
hair ascends, and those on which it descends. Those with ascending
hairs are simply traces which encroach on the descending hair outside
the escutcheon, either on one side or beneath the vulva. Those with the
descending hair are on the escutcheon, and are five in number.
1. _Epi ovale_, oval tuft. These are situated on the udder, like those
on class one, two, three, four, order first. They are good signs, if of
descending fine hair, small, and regular. They are mostly seen on only
the best cows, though occasionally to be met with in some of the lower
orders.
2. _Epi fessard_, ischiatic tuft. These are found on the vertical
escutcheon on one or both sides of the vulva, as in class four, five,
orders two, three, four; and very conspicuously in the bastards of class
three, four, five, six. They are of ascending hair, and never seen in
first class cows, but in most others to a limited extent.
3. _Epi babin_, lip-shaped tuft. This is only seen as a sign of
deterioration in the two first classes; it is made by descending hairs,
and is a defect for milking qualities. It is like a string hanging over
the top of the vulva, and making its outline a little below it on each
side. It is seldom seen.
4. _Epi vulvé_, vulvan tuft. This is also a deteriorating sign; is a tuft
of descending hair directly under the vulva, as in class one, orders
three and four.
5. _Epi batard_, perinæal tuft. This is always a bad mark, as it exists
on otherwise good marked cows, and indicates a diminution of milk, as
soon as the cow becomes pregnant. It is seen on class one, bastard. A cow
is to be looked upon with suspicion that has this mark largely developed.
6. _Epi cuissard_, thigh tufts. These are diminutions of the escutcheon
by encroachment of descending hair, and denote a diminishing of the
quantity of milk, proportionate to their extent. See class one and two,
order four.
7. _Epi jonctif_, mesian tuft. The mesian or dart-like tuft, with soft
silky ascending hair, is rarely seen, and only in those classes in which
the escutcheon does not ascend to the vulva. It is like a V hanging
beneath the vulva, and is not fully represented in the plates, though
class ten, order two, shows it somewhat.
In these observations among cows, not only during their work as members
of the commission, but also in preceding examinations, Messrs. Blight,
Harvey, and Hazard noticed a series of marks, which they have denominated
_thigh ovals_. The plate showing the escutcheon of Mr. Hazard’s Jersey
cow furnishes one of the best illustration of these marks yet met with by
the commission. Where the vertical escutcheon joins and widens out into
the thigh escutcheon, there is usually a dip of a curved shape more or
less in extent. In the plate above alluded to these thigh ovals descend
nearly to the base of the udder. In their careful examination of more
than two hundred cows, the commission always found these marks only on
good cows.
In his examinations Guenon found cows of apparently each class with
certain variations in their markings which distinguished them and
prevented their incorporation into any class, and, yet the similarity
gives them a claim in their particular class. In all cases he claims to
have noted that cows thus marked would milk as well as other members
of their class, until they were got with calf, but as soon as this was
accomplished, the quantity of milk fell off rapidly. The commission
claim it is this style of marking which is most likely to deceive the
superficial or amateur investigators, and that these have caused the
assertion that a poor cow may be well marked, when in reality, if
properly understood, she was not well marked. This class of cows Guenon
styled _Bastards_, and he practically assigned to them a distinctive or
seventh _order_ in each class.
In 1822, Guenon seems to have first reduced his system to a classified
basis, and from that time until 1828 he appears to have given it much of
his time and attention. Having, as he deemed, sufficiently arranged and
tested his system, he, in 1828, applied to the academy of Bordeaux for a
public test of the correctness of his mode of judging of cows and their
milking value.
[Illustration: Escutcheon of ROSIE.