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The word " quality " may perhaps best be defined as the 

 reverse of coarseness, i.e., an animal symmetrically built, 

 delicately shaped, fine in bone, with a close, glossy coat, 

 soft hair, and a thin, supple skin. It is closely allied, 

 too, with the characteristics of health, for some of these 

 features can hardly be present if the goat is unhealthy 

 any more than they can if the animal is out of condition. 

 Quality, in fact, is that peculiar attractiveness which is 

 recognised and admired by everyone, whether the person 

 be an expert on the subject or not, and it goes a long way 

 towards bringing success to the exhibitor. Condition may 

 mean the bloom of health or the " get up " for exhibition. 

 It does not affect, we know, the instrinsic merit of an 

 animal ; but be that animal a dog, a cow, a horse, or a 

 goat, no judge can afford to overlook it. Considering that 

 in close competitions the qualities of some exhibits are so 

 much on a par that it is almost impossible to say which 

 is most deserving of a prize, a judge is always glad to 

 have condition to fall back upon, as he knows his decision 

 will then be generally approved. Although " quality " is 

 a feature dependent in great measure on ' ' breed, " it is 

 not always the case, as even in animals of the same 

 breed it is more apparent in some individuals than in 

 others. Moreover, the point in question can in great 

 measure be artificially developed. A goat with a rough, 

 ungroomed coat may have quality naturally, but in that 

 state it is not apparent. An experienced exhibitor knows 

 how to put his animals in show form. 



COLOUR AND MARKINGS. These are matters which 

 affect goats probably least of all exhibits, for the reason 

 that, excepting Swiss varieties, this class of stock is not 

 judged from the point of view of breed, which is so often 

 governed by colour and marking. The remark made 

 above in regard to horns applies here with still greater 

 force. Colour is purely a matter of taste or fancy, and is 



