Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 45 



they are, therefore, good indices of condition. After castration, the 

 scrotum with its content of fat is called the "cod." Thin steers show 

 very little fullness of cod, while fat ones have the cod completely filled 

 with fat. Thin animals also exhibit a very light hind flank. At the 

 beginning there may be little more than a fold of skin; when fat, this 

 part fills out remarkably full and heavy. By placing the flat of the 

 hand beneath it and lifting, the quantity of fat in the flank is easily 

 determined. When a fat steer walks, there is a characteristic roll or 

 swell to the flank as the hind leg swings forward. This is not notice- 

 able in a thin animal. The thickness of the tongue-root may be de- 

 termined by grasping the part with the thumb and fingers. 



Some individuals fatten smoothly, with no special tendency to 

 bunch the fat in patches or rolls at certain points, while others become 

 "roily," or "patchy," in spite of all the feeder's skill. Patches and 

 rolls are most often found about the tail-head and end of the rump, 

 along the ribs, and at the edge of the loin. The occurrence of these 

 is highly undesirable; they indicate an improper distribution of fat, 

 give the animal a rough appearance, and, when the animal is slaughter- 

 ed, the carcass is discounted, for then the bunches of fat are very 

 evident and the appearance is spoiled. The fatter the steer becomes, 

 the greater is the tendency toward patchiness, yet many animals begin 

 to exhibit this defect before they are really ripe and ready for market. 



Style has actual market value in a fat steer. A stylish steer is 

 one that stands squarely on his feet, with his back level, head well up, 

 and eyes and ears attentive to what is going on about him. This does 

 not mean a nervous animal, but a wide-awake one, full of life, and 

 seemingly interested in the things about him. When he walks, he does 

 it easily and without awkwardness. Other things being equal, such a 

 steer will attract buyers much more quickly than an animal that 

 slouches while standing, showing a pronounced dip in the back, and 

 having an awkward stride when in motion. These two animals may 

 dress out equally high, and yield equally valuable carcasses; the differ- 

 ence is that the first steer forces his good points to the attention of the 

 buyer and shows for all he is worth, while in the case of the second 

 steer, the buyer is left to discover the animal's good points without 

 any assistance from the animal. Cattle with style sell more readily 

 and at slightly higher prices than cattle without style. 



Size and weight vary according to age, sex, breed, and fatness. 

 Disregarding breed differences, for this factor need not be considered 

 here, the following figures represent fair standards of weight at differ- 

 ent ages for well-fattened steers: 



