JUDGING BEEF TYPE OF CATTLE 



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top of the neck and about the thighs. Among the beef 

 breeds, notably Hereford and Galloway, one often sees two 

 classes of hair on the body, a very thick, fine coat lying 

 beneath a much longer and more open one. This thick 

 "mossy undercoat," as it is often termed, being somewhat 

 oily, easily turns the heaviest rains, and serves an important 

 purpose in keeping the animal dry when exposed to winter 



Fig. 127. "One often sees two classes of hair on the body, a very thick, 

 fine coat lying beneath a much longer and more open one." 



storms. The hair is also an indicator of health. If dry 

 and harsh, curling back at its tips, forming what is known 

 as a "staring coat," it is evident that the animal is not 

 doing well, or is not in healthy condition. Cattle suffering 

 from tuberculosis, in advanced stage, show this staring, 

 lustreless coat of hair. Therefore, the degree of thrift or 

 health is easily seen by the qualified judge, as he glances 



