Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 159 



marked degree, and with the legs sprawhng; others are active in th'eir 

 movements, keeping their legs under them, and carrying themselves 

 with little apparent effort, the latter of course being much preferred. 

 Style has market value in a bull as in a steer, and between an animal 

 that stands and walks properly, and one that slouches, other things 

 being equal, the former will sell much more readily if they are priced 

 the same, and his calves will more quickly attract buyers when they 

 reach the market. Before purchasing a bull, the cows in the herd 

 should be carefully studied and their weaknesses noted, so that a bull 

 may be selected that is strong in the points where the cows show 

 weakness. 



A beef bull, well developed at a year old, may serve a few cows, 

 but should as a rule be eighteen months old. An ordinarily vigorous 

 mature bull will get 100 calves a year if the cows come to him at proper 

 intervals, but when they are nearly all bred in the spring and in the 

 fall probably 60 is about the usual limit. 



The beef breeding cow or heifer. — Cows reach maturity quicker 

 than bulls, but do not attain as much size or weight. They show 

 more refinement at all points than do males, but in form and fleshing 

 are nearly identical with all good beef animals regardless of sex. In 

 selecting cows, emphasis is placed upon constitution, thick natural 

 flesh, quick maturity, and feminine character. The head shows 

 marked refinement, and there is a calm expression of the eye, showing 

 a much milder disposition than the bull. As compared with steers, 

 the horns are less developed, and the neck is not so thick and perhaps 

 not quite so short. The shoulders are well laid in and smooth, and 

 throughout the forequarters there is an absence of the great strength 

 and massiveness found in the bull. The refinement of the cow's head, 

 neck, and shoulders is an evidence of femininity, which, like masculinity 

 in the male, is evidence of breeding capacity. "Motherly" looking 

 cows, not too compact in form, are wanted. A coarse, "steery" headed 

 female is seldom a successful breeder. Although she may produce a 

 calf each year, her stock is not likely to possess the high qualities that 

 one expects. 



A straight, strong back and wide, deep middle are as desirable in 

 the cow as in the bull or steer, indeed even more so, as a capacious 

 middle provides ample room for carrying the calf. Cows should be a 

 Httle longer in the middle, a little less compact in other words, than 

 steers and bulls. The hips are notably different, showing more width 

 and prominence, and this feature is often so pronounced as to cause 

 criticism. While a wider hip is accepted in cows than in other beef 

 animals, nevertheless care should be taken to guard against undue 

 prominence. Cows are also usually shorter and rougher in the rump 



