TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



101 



a good fault in a feeder, but the best feeders have much depth 

 and fullness of middle without being objectionably paunchy. 

 The feeder should have as much smoothness as is consistent 

 with thinness. Too great prominence of shoulder, hips, and 

 tail-head should be avoided. There should be nothing in his 

 form that will prevent a high degree of smoothness being secured 

 when he is fattened. It should be remembered that the propor- 

 tions of the head and neck correspond with the type of body, 

 and in making selections of young thin cattle these are depend- 

 able indicators of the turn the form will take during development 

 and finishing. 



The head demands far more attention in the feeder than in 

 the finished steer. We look for what is termed the "feeder's 



Fig. 21. An Average Load of Steers on Feed. 



head," that is, a head of much width between the eyes, short 

 and clean-cut from eyes to muzzle, very broad at the muzzle, 

 but not coarse, large of nostril, and strongly muscled and well 

 developed in cheeks and jaws. The eye should be large, prom- 

 inent, bright, clear, and placid. Polled or dehorned cattle are 

 preferred by feeders, although this feature does not affect the 

 grading of the animal on the market. More hornless cattle 

 can be put in the feed-lot or car, and they make more rapid 

 gains on feed because of less commotion and less difficulty in 

 getting up to the feed-racks. Hornless cattle shrink less in 

 shipment, the carcasses show fewer bruises, and the hides are 

 more valuable. Being in greater demand, they sell at slightly 

 higher prices. Dehorning gives cattle a setback, causes wild- 



