34 FEEDERS. 



is dependent upon the manner in which the lungs, liver, and 

 kidneys as purifying agents, discharge their duties. 



A deep, wide chest insures ample room for the vital 

 organs, and the importance of this should never be over- 

 looked in buying feeders. 



Besides having a deep-wide chest, choice feeders must 

 be low-set, broad-backed, with strong spring of ribs, especially 

 behind the shoulder; the top (back) and bottom (belly) 

 lines should be straight, the flank low, the hindquarters long, 

 level, and deep. The head should be wide, not long, the 

 neck short, and fitted smoothly to the shoulders. The shoul- 

 ders should not be coarse, nor the hips too prominent; and 

 the limbs should be fine, with dense, clean bone. 



In addition to possessing the conformation and quality 

 indicated, they should show a good development of natural 

 flesh; and a quiet, phlegmatic temperament is also import- 

 ant, for it tends to give more rapid gains. A restless, nervous 

 steer, runs the flesh off nearly as fast as a skillful feeder 

 can lay it on. A large, quiet eye is an excellent indication 

 of the desired temperament, and the general behavior of the 

 steers when one is moving among them on foot or on horse- 

 back is also a good guide. Choice feeders should always 

 develop into choice steers, and if skillfully fed, they may 

 grade as prime. 



Good feeders approximate closely in all respects to choice 

 feeders. They may lack a very little in both form or quality; 

 but, as a general rule, they are more apt to be deficient in 

 quality than in form. They should, by proper handling, make 

 good to choice beeves. 



Medium feeders are open to criticism from all points, to 

 some degree; the most noticeable faults are legginess, rough 

 shoulders, and a lack of spring in rib. 



Common and inferior feeders are the lowest grades, de- 

 cidedly deficient in all respects. They are difficult to sepa- 

 rate with any satisfaction, but if the most deficient steer 

 imaginable be chosen, he may be classed as inferior; while 

 another equally bad in all respects save constitution, would 

 grade as common. The grades given for feeders apply to 

 stockers as well, and the same differences prevail; but it is 

 still harder to definitely grade them, because they are still 

 more undeveloped. 



