CHAPTER VIII 



MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF CATTLE 



[^ Six well-defined classes of cattle are recognized at the large live- 

 stock markets. Each class is divided into several grades. The six 

 general classes and their requirements are briefly as follows: 



1. Beef steers— including all steers suitable for block beef. 



2. Butcher stock — including all heifers, cows, bulls, and stags 

 suitable for block beef. 



3. Cutters and canners — including mostly thin cows and bulls, 

 but also inferior steers, heifers, stags, and calves not suitable for feeding 

 and too inferior to yield a carcass suitable for block use. 



4. Veal calves — including all grades of veal calves. 



5. Stockers and feeders — including thin calves, yearlings, two- 

 year-olds, and older cattle. It includes steers,, heifers, cows, and bulls. 



6. Milkers and springers. — These are cattle of dairy breeding 

 which are usually more valuable for milking purposes than for beef. 

 They are sorted out and sold for dairy purposes. 



The grades. — The cattle in each class are graded according to 

 their relative value. The grades are (1) prime, or fancy selected, (2) 

 choice, (3) good, (4) medium, and (5) common. The term "fair" 

 means the same as "medium" and is frequently substituted for it. 

 "Inferior" or "poor" are sometimes substituted for "common." In 

 some classes there is no grade better than choice, and in other classes 

 there are no grades better than good. As the term "prime" indicates 

 a high degree of condition or finish, the best grade of feeder steers and 

 feeder calves is termed "fancy selected-" 



Definitions of class and grade.-v-As shown above, cattle are classed 

 according to the use for which they are adapted and sold. The cattle 

 in each class are graded according to the degree with which they meet 

 the requirements of the class. Briefly, then, cattle are classed accord- 

 ing to use and graded according to value. 



A market class may be defined as a group or division including all 

 animals on the market adapted and sold for a certain commercial use. 



A grade may be defined as a division of a market class including all 

 animals of about the same value per cwt. 



The principal factors determining the use and value of market 

 cattle are form, quality, condition, weight, age, and sex. 



Distinction between type and market class.— A type represents an 

 ideal which the breeder or feeder is endeavoring to produce. Types 



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