Sarah Thomas served as the 31st Hoard’s Dairyman summer editorial intern

In today’s modern dairy world, milking equipment is an essential part of the milk harvesting process. Nearly every lactating cow is touched by a milking machine at least two or three times per day

Joe Sparrow placed the BROWN SWISS class in the 2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

Brian Kelroy placed the HOLSTEIN class in the 2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

Jim Meyer placed the GUERNSEY class in the 2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

Lomeo placed the MILKING SHORTHORN class in the 2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

Packard placed the JERSEY class in the 2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest - Brown Swiss Class

2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest - Holstein Class

2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest - Guernsey Class

2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest - Milking Shorthorn Class

2019 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest - Jersey Class

Christy Achen served as the 30th Hoard’s Dairyman summer editorial intern

We shadowed Pipping Concrete as they built an aboveground manure storage structure on a Wisconsin dairy farm

I place this class of Brown Swiss cows D-B-C-A. For me, D is the most balanced cow in the class and shows the best overall dairy quality among any individual in the class

In placing this class of Holstein cows D-C-A-B, Cow D wins on her balance of frame, width of chest, dairy strength, and symmetry to the udder

I place this class of Guernsey cows B-D-A-C. In a very close placing, B places over D for the advantage in the udder

Cow C excels over the rest of the class with more bloom and width of udder, capacity of rib, and a correct, steep foot angle in this class that I placed C-D-A-B

I place this class of Jerseys A-C-B-D. A makes her way to the top using her advantage in udder attachments and bloom of udder

2018 Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging contest - Jersey Class