5F65 



LECTURE XXVI. 



POINTS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE PREPARATION AND 

 FITTING OF CATTLE FOR THE SHOW RING. 



The first and most important step is to have the right 

 kind of an animal. It matters little what you feed if you 

 have not the right kind of beast to consume it, success will 

 not come your way. Thus, before commencing the training 

 and feeding you must determine whether or not the merits 

 of the animal are such as to justify the owner to lavish the 

 expense and trouble necessary to bring him out a prize win- 

 ner in first-class company. If you are doubtful, better to 

 throw him out at once, but if it is in the animal, go at him 

 and lose no time in sending him to the very highest degree 

 of perfection. 



Conformation. Without good conformation it is impos- 

 sible to make a good show animal. The feet and legs must 

 be right, bone of good size, clean cut and joints well defined. 

 The legs should be straight and well set under the body. 

 The head should be short and broad, possessing a sweet coun- 

 tenance. The shoulders should be smooth and well laid in so 

 as to leave no depression behind them which would indicate 

 coarseness or lack of chest capacity. The ribs should be of 

 good length and well arched so as to insure width of back 

 and depth of body. The loin should be broad, the flank well 

 let down, the hindquarters long, broad and well filled in the 

 thighs and twist. The skin should be loose, and covered with 

 a good thick coat of mossy hair. 



Feeding. It is difficult to outline any method of feeding 

 which will meet the needs of all animals. The wise and suc- 

 cessful feeder will study the individual likes and dislikes of 

 his animals and administer feed accordingly. In feeding 

 show cattle there is but one real object in view, which is to 

 present the animal in the best possible bloom at show time. 

 Labor and cost of feed are of minor consideration to the 

 ambitious and successful showman. In feeding steers for the 



