174 CATTLE 



coarse, with heavy attachment, there is also lack of quality. The 

 most signal indication of quality is in the hide, which should 

 always be mellow and pliable, and in the hair, which should be 

 silky and fine. In winter there are thick, fine hairs lying in great 

 profusion next to the skin, with longer ones projecting beyond, 

 thus providing great protection from rough weather. As one 

 views an animal with very distinct evidence of quality in the 

 skin, there will be a glisten and finish to the coat and a roll 

 to the hide which only goes with good quality. Taken in the 

 hands, along over the ribs, the skin seems mellow and pliable 

 to the touch, being easily grasped and stretched. A very thin 

 hide is undesirable, the better sort having a moderate thickness, 

 exceeding that of a dairy animal. 



The fleshing of beef cattle is very important. There should be 

 uniformity of flesh all over the body, even though it be not a 

 fattened animal. On highly fed ones, especially steers, the flesh 

 should increase in thickness, but not lose its uniform distribu- 

 tion over the frame. The palm of the hand pressed along the 

 back, shoulder, or side should find no evidence of irregular 

 covering, with bare spots in one place and heavy fleshing near 

 by. Such fleshing indicates an undesirable type for feeding and 

 killing. 



