JUDGING LIVE STOCK. 45 



words were never spoken. Depth of flesh not fat, but flesh 

 is an all important attribute of a beef sire. The muscles 

 of the loin, back and hindquarters should be large, giving 

 that depth of muscular tissue so much desired in feeders. 

 A wealth of natural flesh when in ordinary breeding condi- 

 tion, is a most valuable characteristic of good beef bulls. 



Constitution. 



The importance of this has already been discussed under 

 Stockers and Feeders, but it is still more important in breed- 

 ing stock, not only because of the more vigorous digestive 

 and assimilative power gained thereby, but also because it 

 ensures greater freedom from disease. The health and vigor 

 of cattle may be gauged very accurately by the depth and 

 width of chest. Narrow chested animals are especially sus- 

 ceptible to such diseases as tuberculosis. The importance of 

 a "good middle" or deep, wide chest, with well sprung fore- 

 ribs, cannot be over emphasized in judging breeding stock. 



Early Maturity. 



The capacity to grow steadily and rapidly to a market- 

 able weight while still young, is especially desirable, and 

 much sought after by breeders. This is indicated to the 

 judge by the animal's weight and finish for age, and varies 

 in the different breeds. Broadly speaking, a bull which has 

 made a weight of 1,600 pounds at 20 months of age should 

 be considered early maturing, providing that he has not been 

 unduly fattened. 



Quality. 



Bulls are naturally coarser throughout than steers or 

 cows, but while this is to be expected, there should be indi- 

 cations of quality in dense, clean bone in the limbs; the hide 

 should be of moderate thickness, and the skin should be plia- 

 ble and mellow to the hand. The coat varies in the different 

 breeds, but should be of moderate length, with a soft and 

 downy undercoat, which is almost like fur in the winter; in 

 the summer this is not so apparent. 



Besides the characteristics of masculinity, form, natural 

 flesh, constitution, early maturity and quality, due attention 

 should be paid to the general vigor of the animal. The legs 

 should be straight, and in the hind limbs especially, there 

 should be no tendency to bend out at the hocks, nor to be 

 weak in the pasterns. A bull's hind limbs are subject to 



