42 AMERICAN* CATTLE. 



These points it is necessary that every cattle manager should 

 understand, as they are the marks which, in their development, 

 or absence, make up a great share of the value, or beauty, or 

 ugliness of shape of the animal. The prominence of these 

 points vary in the different breeds, or races. They also indi- 

 cate, measurably, to what uses, and to what soils, the animals 

 more strongly showing them, are best adapted, and a familiarity 

 with the terms necessary to mark the criticisms which breeders 

 or graziers may make on them. 



A rear view of the animal, which is hardly necessary to give, 

 would develop another point which is omitted in the diagram, 

 viz.: The "twist," or junction of the thighs, the proper position 

 of which, high or low, is quite important in adding to or sub- 

 tracting from the value of the beast. The point is named here, 

 as a reference may frequently be made to it hereafter. 



The true value of an animal for beef purposes, depends on 

 its lightness of "offal" when slaughtered, in comparison with its 

 flesh; therefore the less bone, and poor flesh, the better. A 

 coarse and open bone, by which is meant an undue growth and 

 protuberance of that portion of the carcass, carries with it less 

 valuable flesh than a fine, compact bone; therefore no more 

 bone is necessary than, in its proper position and development, 

 will give the substance and breadth necessary to carry the 

 amount of flesh required. Some cattle are so loosely, or sleazily 

 put together that the ligaments necessary to connect the dif- 

 ferent parts of their bodies are unnecessarily large, making tough 

 meat, though ever so well fed; thus rough, coarse animals are 

 unprofitable in every way, as they are large consumers of food, 

 and weigh less at slaughtering than the more compact ones of 

 less apparent size, while their flesh is of inferior quality. Coarse 

 bone bears more offal (bone is offal,) in worthless flesh, in pro- 

 portion to live weight, than fine bone does. Coarse bone gives 

 more dewlap, and loose skin, than fine, and as the hide is usually 



