Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2009
The possibility of using a skin measurement as an index of potential milkproducing capacity in cattle was re-examined. Skin specimens were obtained by biopsy from 7 dairy herds, and each of 5 anatomical measurements was correlated with (1) milk yield and (2) butterfat percentage.
Only one of the pooled within-herd relationships was statistically significant. This relationship indicated that within the breeds studied, cows with the least hair follicle depth would be expected to give the highest milk yield. It is suggested that a more extensive investigation of this relationship might yield results of practical value in assessing milk-producing capacity and in progeny testing.