242 



JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



r 



Fig. 133. "When the shoulder is 'well-laid,' as 

 it is termed, one can feel little evidence of the 

 bone below." 



breeders. The 

 Hereford breed of 

 cattle is noted for 

 its beautiful, 

 smooth and well- 

 laid shoulder, dis- 

 tinctly surpassing 

 other beef breeds 

 in this respect. In 

 judging the shoul- 

 der, it will be well 

 to keep in mind 

 the importance of 

 this part as a dis- 

 tinctive feature of 

 beef conformation, 

 and the great ne- 

 cessity of having it well laid and smoothly covered. 

 The breast of the beef animal should be wide and full, 

 with the brisket wide and of fair prominence. To see 

 the breast well, one must stand in front so as to note the 

 placing of neck between the shoulders, and the width of 

 chest. If the neck is thick and blends into the shoulders 

 right, then the breast will present both width and fullness. 

 The brisket extends forward between the legs, merging 

 with the lower juncture of the neck. This part should be 

 wide, with a distinct groove on its lower side. The brisket 

 occasionally, with mature animals in high condition, pro- 

 jects in front of the legs in a very prominent and undesir- 

 able style, and may be only 12 or 15 inches from the ground. 

 A neatly rounded upward carriage of this part is prefer- 

 able, giving evidence of flesh production, and to some ex- 

 tent, vigorous constitution. Youatt makes considerable and 

 interesting comment on the brisket. He states 4 that ' ' it 

 has been considered as a part of the anterior wall of the 

 chest, and as a proof of depth and capacity. This is alto- 



4 Cattle, 1860, p. 370. 



