176 



BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



per cent. Thus the butcher usually prefers to buy the better 

 class of animals, which dress out 60 per cent or more. 



The condition of a beef animal refers to the covering of 

 flesh or degree of fatness. Thin animals are spoken of as in 

 thin condition, while fat ones are in fat condition. The con- 

 dition is determined mainly by the eye of the judge. The 

 well-fattened animal shows plumpness of body. His more 

 exposed portions, like the hips and shoulder points, are 



Fig. 100. 



Feeling along the back of a steer to study depth of covering of flesh. 

 Photograph by the author. 



covered with flesh. When a fat steer moves, the flesh about 

 his breast and in his flanks shows more movement than is 

 seen in a thin-fleshed animal. The hand may also assist the 

 eye in inspecting fat cattle. When using the hand, the ends 

 of the fingers are kept together, and are pressed along the 

 middle of the back and on the sides over the ribs. The 

 thickness and firmness of covering is easily determined by the 

 touch. A mellow, yet firm resistance to the hand pressure 



