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

by Willis P. Hazard

EXTRACTS FROM THE MUCH LARGER NOTICES OF THE WORK.

How to Select Cows; or, the Guenon System Explained. By Willis P. Hazard. In no way is the march of improvement in agriculture more decided than in the new discoveries and new methods of developing its resources. It is owing to these that America is now the granary of the world, and, as years roll by, if the developments of the next decade are as great in proportion as the last ones, no matter how extensive the foreign demand, there will be an ample supply at still lower prices than at the present. No branch of agricultural interests has changed so much and received such an impetus, especially within the last five years, as the dairy. Entire new modes of making butter and cheese and of setting milk have largely taken place of the old ones. Competition in making dairy products becomes keener each year, and every process by which the labor can be lessened, or the products be cheapened, meets with recompense.

The first step, however, is in the selection of good stock, for by it the product of the herd is increased from twenty-five to thirty-three per cent., and, therefore, the profits must be immensely greater. The old plan of our forefathers of judging of the value of a cow by a crumpled horn and a large bag is now set aside by recent discoveries. The most important and most reliable one is that of Mons. François Guenon, of Libourne, France. After a series of experiments he was convinced there were outward marks in the hair which were an indication of the yield and quality of all cows. Patiently for many years he labored at forming his discoveries into a system, with classes and orders of each variation. He was finally rewarded by the approval of all the leading agricultural societies in France, and by that government with a pension of three thousand francs.

The work of Guenon was partially translated and published in this country years ago, but it was his first crude effort, and it presented the new science in so crude a form as rather to dismay the learner than to invite him to master it. Last year the State of Pennsylvania appointed a commission of three well-known agriculturists and experts to test the system and report upon it. That report was printed and published to the extent of twenty-five thousand copies, which but partially supplied the demand. Messrs. Blight, Harvey, and Hazard examined the escutcheons of two hundred cows, and interpreted them as regards the quantity, quality, and time of the yield of each animal. Alongside of their statements the knowledge of the owner of each cow was printed, and it is truly wonderful how accurately the character of each cow is given by these gentlemen who had never seen the cattle before. The gist of their report was that the system was invaluable and worthy of adoption by every farmer, and such adoption would add millions of value to the improved herds of the country.

Upon the publication of this report, discussions took place in the leading agricultural journals, and thus has been created a demand for more easily to be acquired knowledge upon the whole subject. Willis P. Hazard, the secretary of the commission, has prepared a complete treatise upon Guenon’s system, and it has been just issued in a cheap form, for wide circulation.

Mr. Hazard in his book gives a sketch of the life of M. Guenon and the progress of his system, and then fully explains it, so that in this simplified form any one can quickly learn all the points so as to readily apply it. The opinions of others, both pro and con, are introduced, argued, and answered, so that in this volume one gets a full history and account of the system, and its practical application is made easy. There is a profusion of engravings, photographed from Guenon’s designs, which thoroughly elucidate the text and render it a valuable handbook which no farmer can afford to do without, and which amateur agriculturists will find a most interesting development of a wonderful discovery.—Philadelphia Inquirer.

“A gentleman well known among the dairymen, and who was appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania to investigate the value and practicability of the Guenon system. He was induced to undertake the explanation of the system, which he has very ably performed in this volume. The low price at which it is offered should induce every one even in the smallest manner engaged in breeding or management of cows to procure a copy of it.”—American Farmer, Baltimore.

“At the New York State fair, in September, 1879, Mr. Hazard applied the Guenon system to a large number of cows of different breeds on exhibition, and told the amount of milk each gave, as indicated by the escutcheon theory. A committee, with Col. F. D. Curtis as chairman, was appointed to accompany him, and they state in their report that he was generally accurate, not varying in any instance more than two quarts in stating the daily average yield, and in most cases giving the amount exactly, and also the time the cows would give milk. He made his estimate on the average daily yield for the first three months after calving, on liberal feed. In one or two instances he over rated the cows, but generally where there was any difference he was under the amount stated by the owners. Mr. Hazard takes into consideration in his estimates the size of the cow and her whole contour, as well as the character of the skin. His round of observation is first the shape of the escutcheon, then the milk veins and quality of the skin. He offered to have the cows blanketed and then tell their milking capacity, but this was not done. It is fair to say that he judges mainly by the escutcheon. The tests attracted a large circle of breeders, who were greatly interested on account of the novelty and general accuracy.”—Col. Curtis in New York Tribune.