LECTURE XII. 



SHORTHORNS JUDGING AND SELECTION. 



The following points should be observed in judging and 

 selecting Shorthorn bulls: 



Form. 



Practically the same as already discussed in foregoing 

 lectures. The body should be low-set, deep, wide, with 

 strong spring of rib, and long, wide hindquarters. The head 

 should be short, wide, and burly; the neck short, with a 

 strong crest. The shoulder vein should swell smoothly into- 

 the shoulders, which should be broad and strong, but not 

 unduly coarse. They should not be too open on top. Just 

 back of the shoulder the spring of rib should be very strong, 

 giving a round, full "chine," and a roomy chest. This spring 

 of rib should continue clear to the floor of the chest, for far 

 too often there is a slackness at the foreflank giving a narrow 

 floored chest. The top and bottom lines should be straight, 

 and to this end the hind flank should be low and full. The 

 loin should be wide and level, the rump long and level, and 

 the thigh wide, the width continuing well toward the hock 

 as viewed from the side. Viewed from behind, the hind- 

 quarters should be wide, and there should be an absence of 

 patches about the rump. Over all parts there should be a 

 deep layer of natural flesh; this should be particularly no- 

 ticeable on the loin and back, and in the hindquarters, where 

 the twist and thigh should be full and deep, extending welT 

 nigh to the hock. 



Constitution. 



This is guaranteed by a deep, wide chest; too much 

 stress cannot be laid on this, as it measures the ultimate 

 usefulness of th^ animal for any purpose. 



Quality. 



Evidenced by dense, clean bone, proportionately to the 

 si/e of the animal: a loose, pliable skin of medium thick- 



