TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 133 



horns, muscular neck, and massive front were needed to defeat 

 his male rivals, and to protect the herd from its enemies after 

 he had gained leadership. It was a survival of the fittest, which 

 is nature's method of improving the wild animals. Under domes- 

 tication, the masculine characters have not the same values as 

 in the wild state, yet they are none the less valuable, because 

 they indicate a rugged, vigorous, and potent animal qualities 

 highly prized by any breeder. A wide, deep chest and full 

 middle insure a good constitution. The middle is identical in 

 form with the middle of the steer, but more emphasis is placed 

 upon straightness and strength of back. The hips should be 

 smooth, and the hindquarters should be long, level, wide, and 

 heavily fleshed. 



Great variation will be found in the manner in which bulls 

 walk, some doing it awkwardly and clumsily, with the back 

 humped to a marked degree, and with the legs sprawling; others 

 are active in their movements, keeping their legs under them, 

 and carrying themselves with little apparent effort, the latter 

 of course being much preferred. Style has market value in a 

 bull as in a steer, and between an animal that stands and walks 

 gracefully, and one that slouches, other things being equal, the 

 former will sell much more readily if they are priced the same, 

 and his calves will more quickly attract buyers when they reach 

 the market. Before purchasing a bull, the cows in the herd 

 should be carefully studied and their weaknesses noted, so that 

 a bull may be selected that is strong in the points where the 

 cows show weakness. 



A beef bull, well developed at a year old, may serve a few 

 cows, but should as a rule be eighteen months old. An ordinarily 

 vigorous mature bull will get 100 calves a year if the cows come 

 to him at proper intervals, but when they are nearly all bred 

 in the spring and in the fall probably 60 is about the usual limit. 



The beef breeding cow or heifer. Cows reach maturity 

 quicker than bulls, but do not attain as much size or weight. 

 They show more refinement at all points than do males, but 

 in form and fleshing are nearly identical with all good beef 

 animals regardless of sex. In selecting cows, emphasis is placed 

 upon constitution, thick natural flesh, quick maturity, and 

 feminine character. The head shows marked refinement, and 

 there is a calm expression of the eye, showing a much milder 

 disposition than the bull. As compared with steers, the horns 

 ,are less developed, and the neck is not so thick and perhaps 



