116 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



long, narrow head, cuts up in the flank, is spht up in the twist, "cat 

 hammed," and rough in conformation over the hips and rump. His 

 bone is usually too fine, and his hide too thin and "papery" in texture. 

 Coarse, rough steers, with coarse, plain heads, show lack of good 

 ancestry. The wide, short, clean-cut head, with broad muzzle, good 

 eye, and marked indications of what is often termed "character," may 

 be accepted as one of the very best evidences not only of beef breeding, 

 but of good beef breeding. The more one deals with feeder cattle the 

 more one learns to study heads and to place reliance on what the head 

 indicates as to form, quality, feeding capacity, constitution, thrift, 

 breeding, and disposition. 



The colors of the beef breeds are certainly preferred in feeder steers, 

 but many scrub animals masquerade under these colors. Red, roan, 

 or black are frequently found in animals carrying a very small percent- 

 age of Shorthorn, Hereford, Aberdeen-Angus, or Galloway blood. The 

 same is true of the polled head of the Aberdeen-Angus, Galloway, 

 Polled Shorthorn, and Polled Hereford. Well-bred beef steers carry 

 the colors of the beef breeds, but these colors do not always cover well- 

 bred beef steers. Color alone is not a safe guide to good breeding. 

 Color gives unmistakable evidence, however, if it is the fawn or spotted 

 white and fawn of the Jersey and Guernsey, or the black and white 

 markings of the Holstein. In such cases, color furnishes all the evi- 

 dence we need as to the breeding of the animal. As to which of the 

 beef breeds should be given preference when selecting feeders, that is 

 almost entirely a matter of personal fancy. They are all good, and 

 there is no best. There are differences to be sure, but none great 

 enough to claim attention here. 



8. Disposition. — >Nervous, restless cattle are profit-losers on feed. 

 In many instances, with proper handling, such steers quiet down a 

 great deal as the feeding period progresses, but in many other instances 

 this is not true. The eye and the carriage of the head, ears, and tail 

 are indications of the disposition. A high-headed, wild-eyed steer, with 

 ears in motion to catch the slightest sound, stampedes on the least 

 provocation. The poll of the head should be carried only slightly 

 higher than the line of the back, and the eyes should be placid in ex- 

 pression, indicating a quiet, contented feeder that will make gains in 

 proportion to the feed he consumes, instead of wasting his energy in 

 nervousness and frightened antics. 



9. Style. — A low-backed, awkward, slouching kind of a steer may 

 feed as well and yield as good a carcass as a wide-awake, straight- 

 lined steer that stands squarely on his legs, but other things being 

 equal the latter steer looks much better and attracts more favorable 

 attention on the market than the former. A steer of good style shows 



