How to Select Cows

In Short

This manual serves as a definitive explanation of the "Guenon System," a nineteenth-century method for identifying the milk-yielding capacity of cows through external physical markers known as "escutcheons." By documenting the findings of a state-appointed commission, the text aims to demystify these physiological signs for the average farmer. It has remained a significant historical document because it captures a pivotal moment in agricultural science, where observational expertise and biological theory collided to professionalize the dairy industry and optimize herd management for economic gain.

The Story

The narrative begins with a clear, utilitarian objective: to provide a accessible handbook that translates the complex and often obscure discoveries of the French observer Francis Guenon into practical tools for the American dairyman. The author frames the book as a necessary response to the widespread lack of standardized knowledge, which he argues results in immense financial loss for farmers who misjudge the value of their stock. By establishing a commission in Pennsylvania in 1878 to rigorously test Guenon’s theories, the author positions himself not merely as a theorist, but as a field investigator validating scientific claims through direct, blind experimentation.

The arc of the book follows the process of refinement. It moves from the historical origins of Guenon’s discovery—his early struggle to be recognized by the Academy of Bordeaux—to the granular, visual classification of cow biology. The reader is led through the ten classes and six orders of the "escutcheon," a patch of upward-growing hair on the udder that serves as the primary indicator of milk volume and lactation duration. The text does not shy away from the technical complexity of these patterns, providing detailed, photographed engravings to ensure the reader can distinguish between a high-producing "Flanders" class and an inferior "Bastard" marking.

As the argument progresses, the author addresses the inevitable skepticism of the era. He includes letters, testimonials, and reports from various farm inspections where the commission pitted their visual assessments against the known records of experienced herdsmen. In these scenes, the tension lies in the revelation of the cow’s true worth. The author recounts successful public demonstrations at state fairs and private dairy farms, where the commission correctly identified the milking output of cows simply by observing their physical features while ignoring or shielding other factors.

The story concludes with an expansion of the system, offering additional wisdom on the selection of bulls and the importance of environmental factors like pasture quality and climate. The author provides tables that demonstrate the long-term financial impact of upgrading a herd based on these physical indicators, arguing that the "escutcheon" is an essential tool for the modern, enterprising farmer. The final pages shift toward a broader vision of agricultural excellence, framing the mastery of these details as a moral and economic duty. The reader is left with the conviction that by replacing guesswork with systematic observation, the farmer transitions from a passive caretaker to an active manager of natural resources, ensuring the profitability and health of his stock for years to come.

How It Unfolds

Defining the challenge The author outlines the economic necessity of the Guenon system, arguing that farmers lose millions by failing to identify their best milkers. He establishes the goal of the book: to turn the superficial knowledge of the casual observer into a thorough, practical mastery of bovine anatomy.

The anatomy of the escutcheon The reader is introduced to the "milk-mirror," or escutcheon, defined as the surface on a cow’s udder where hair grows upward. The text explains that the size, shape, and quality of this patch indicate both the quantity of milk a cow will produce and how long she will continue to do so after becoming pregnant.

Validating the theory The book chronicles the 1878 Pennsylvania commission's visits to various farms to test the system against the claims of owners. Through these field reports, the text demonstrates that a visual examination of the escutcheon can yield accurate predictions about a cow’s performance compared to the owner's own data.

Broadening the scope The final chapters expand beyond the udder to include other markers of value, such as the position of the hair "quirl" on the back and the physical characteristics of bulls. The author provides closing arguments on why this knowledge is a requisite for any farmer looking to improve his herd's future profitability.

The People

Francis Guenon stands as the intellectual pioneer of the text, a man who possessed a "secret method" and faced the skepticism of academic institutions like the Academy of Bordeaux. He is the distant, authoritative voice whose original observations form the bedrock of the entire system.

Willis P. Hazard, the author, acts as the persistent teacher and mediator. He wants to save the agricultural community from economic inefficiency and views himself as the bridge between Guenon’s technical discovery and the daily life of the American farmer. He is methodical, data-driven, and slightly impatient with those who refuse to test the system before dismissing it.

Chalkley Harvey, a member of the commission, represents the voice of practical, long-term experience. He serves as a mentor figure, helping to simplify Guenon’s complex theories into a manageable set of rules. He admits his initial struggle to learn the system but offers the reader encouragement, framing the process as an "interesting" challenge rather than a chore.

The various farm owners, such as Samuel J. Sharpless and Marshall Strode, serve as the skeptical but ultimately converted subjects. They begin as pragmatic, hard-headed businessmen who trust their own records over a "theory." Through the commission’s successful and accurate assessments of their herds, they evolve into public advocates for the system, providing the testimonials that validate the author’s claims.

In Its Own Voice

The escutcheon, then, is that surface on the cow’s udder where the hair grows upward.

This definition serves as the fundamental starting point for the reader learning to locate the physical indicator discussed throughout the book.

It seemed to him an absolute absurdity to claim a connection between the growing of the hair and the production of milk, two functions so entirely different.

This quote captures the initial skepticism felt by a practical dairyman before he began to observe the accuracy of the theory in his own herd.

It is also desirable, in estimating the extent of the escutcheon, to make full allowance for the folds in the skin; otherwise, a large escutcheon may be taken for a small one.

This instruction illustrates the precision required in applying the system, warning the reader against simple visual errors.

What It's Really About

At its core, this work is an argument for the transition from traditional, experience-based intuition to a standardized, scientific approach to animal husbandry. It explores the relationship between outward physical markers and internal biological potential, positing that nature leaves an "infallible" record of a creature's utility on its own skin. The book raises fundamental questions about the predictability of living organisms and the extent to which human intervention can optimize biological systems for economic production. It posits that the "goodness" of a cow is not a matter of mystery or luck, but a measurable fact that can be learned by any patient, observant individual, thereby democratizing the expertise needed to run a successful dairy.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of science, agricultural methods, or the nineteenth-century obsession with taxonomy will find this book fascinating. It captures a specific, bygone era where "reading" an animal's body was considered a high form of expertise. The prose is warm and instructional, though readers should be prepared for the dense, technical jargon of the Guenon system and the period-specific attitudes toward animal management. The detailed, often vivid descriptions of anatomy, combined with the earnest, report-like accounts of farm visits, offer an immersive look into a world where the future of farming was being reshaped by the belief that every physical detail held a hidden value. You will likely walk away from the text not necessarily as a cattle judge, but with a deeper appreciation for the meticulous, often strange ways humanity has sought to control and improve the natural world. It is a slow, methodical read that asks for the same patience the author demands of his students in the farmyard, rewarding the persistent reader with a glimpse into a very specific, and now largely forgotten, vision of agricultural perfection.