Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 137 



Stock heifers. — Yearling and older heifers are taken out for 

 stocking and for breeding purposes. Those taken from the markets 

 for use in breeding herds must pass the tuberculin test. Some are sold 

 for grain feeding. The grades are choice, good, medium, and common. 

 These are similar to the corresponding grades of feeder steers. 



Stock cows. — The foregoing remarks relative to stock heifers 

 apply also to stock cows, except that cows are seldom taken out for 

 grain feeding. The grades are choice, good, medium, and common. 



Feeder bulls. — These are young bulls of beef type. They are 

 usually stagged (castrated) and are frequently mixed in with loads of 

 steers when fat. Many of them pass as steers when returned to market ; 

 others plainly show coarseness of head, neck, and forequarters due to 



Fig, 44. — Common feeder steer. 



late castration and are sold as stags. The supply and demand are 

 limited. The grades of feeder bulls are choice, good, medium, and 

 common. 



Milkers and Springers \ 



These are cows and heifers of dairy type and breeding which are 

 sorted out of the run of cattle at the market and sold to dairymen. 

 They are sold by the head, whereas all other classes of cattle are sold 

 by the hundredweight. The only difference between a milker and a 

 springer is that the former is in milk while the latter is heavy in calf and 

 will freshen soon. The springer gives evidence in her type, color, and 

 mammary development that she will be a useful milk cow after calving. 



