108 



TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



fine, the skin pliable and medium thick, and the outlines are 

 smooth and well rounded. The flesh is abundant in all parts, 

 and is firm, yet mellow and springy to the touch. There are 

 no ties, rolls, or patches of flabby fat, but a smooth, even, deep, 

 firm fleshing everywhere. Prime steers weighing from 1200 

 to 1400 pounds are in greatest demand, although they may 

 weigh up to 1600 pounds. Very few steers come to market 

 which grade as prime. At the conclusion of the International 

 Live Stock Exposition, which is held at the Union Stock Yards 

 in December, most of the fat steers are sold, and these are usually 

 prime, but it requires much searching to locate cattle of this 

 sort at other periods of the year. 



Fig. 23. Prime Fat Steers. 



Choice steers. If a steer is not quite right in quality or 

 condition, but still possesses to a marked degree the charac- 

 teristics most sought by packers and shippers, he is called a 

 choice steer. 



Good steers. Good fat steers may be of very good quality, 

 but noticeably lacking in condition or finish; they may be fin- 

 ished or in prime condition, yet lacking in quality; or they may 

 be noticeably deficient in both quality and condition, but still 

 good enough to be above the average grade of fat cattle reach- 

 ing the market. By far the largest number of steers belonging 

 to the good grade may be said to be a little on the coarse order; 

 they are fat and of good weight, but rather plain. 



