THE JUDGING OF LIVE STOCK 133 



are used, the column of figures do not stand out so clearly 

 in contrast as when decimal fractions are used. 



The number of points cut is an expression sometimes used 

 when referring to the number of points deducted from per- 

 fection. If a part in the perfect score is credited with 10, 

 and one gives the animal in question 7 points, then we say 

 it has been cut 3 points. Some young judges often write 

 the 3 on the card, instead of the 7. This is wrong. The 

 points cut should not be written down. 



The value of the score of an animal should not be regarded 

 too highly. The chief importance of the score card lies in 

 the first lessons in judging, in which the different parts of the 

 animal, their location and relative value are impressed on the 

 mind. However, it is difficult to score an animal satisfac- 

 torily under the varying conditions of living flesh. Today 

 we may score an animal 75, and tomorrow perhaps 71. The 

 horse we scored yesterday may show more character and 

 style today than he did 24 hours ago. We do not know how 

 to express in cold figures these things we see in the beast 

 before us. We can tell what we see, and if we have two or 

 more animals before us for judgment, it may be an easy 

 thing to place them in their relative order of merit, and with 

 good reasons. Yet these reasons can not be so clearly 

 shown by a column of figures on a score card. On various 

 occasions efforts have been made to judge animals on the 

 basis of the scale of points, and to make show-ring awards 

 accordingly. This plan has been carefully tried by many of 

 our best judges, and has very generally proved unsatis- 

 factory, and for the reason given. Today the scoring method 

 is generally discarded, except at poultry shows, and here it 

 has given such dissatisfaction that it has been abolished in 

 many cases. In spite of this criticism, we must not lose 



