Udder Size in Relation to M I L K Secretion. by John W. Gowen and Elmer

Our knowledge of the mammary gland as related to its size and function has been largely based on the observational relationship which exists between udder size and the milk the cow is able to give.1 Briefly considered the data available consist of two measurements, the milk production of the cow in pounds and the relative degree of perfection of the udder in size, shape, and quality as measured on an arbitrary scale called her score. Study of this information on 1674 Jersey cattle shows a correlation between the size and quality of the udder and the milk yield which the cow was able to produce. This correlation, while markedly significant, is low, .19 -4.016. The evidence thus points to the conclusion that despite the obvious sources of error the size of the udder is a function at least of the milk which the cow is able to secrete. The just published work of Gaines and Sanmann * supports this hypothesis while the work of Maxwell and Rother# and the opinions of many dairymen and veterinarians citing the size of the udder as being too small to hold the milk the