262 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



enough fleshing to satisfy reasonable show ring require- 

 ments. Breed characteristics are an essential feature of 

 the modern sire. There is no argument in behalf of the 

 use of grade or cross-bred sires, therefore, the bull should 

 possess all the important characteristics of the breed he 

 represents. Each of the beef breeds, in its more perfect 

 development, meets the requirements of superior meat pro- 

 duction, but the presence of certain color markings of hair, 

 and details of conformation, distinguishing features of 

 the breed, and evidences of the right kind of ancestry are 

 also demanded. The presence of these features in the bull 

 will furnish important evidence of his possible power of 

 transmitting these desirable qualities to his offspring. 



(B) JUDGING BEEF COWS. 



The sex character of the beef cow is especially seen in 

 the head, neck, form of body and udder. The head should 

 be distinctly feminine, lacking the size and burly character 

 of the bull. The face is more refined, the forehead not so 

 broad, the eyes milder, and the horns smaller and more 

 refined. In fact, refinement of head, with neatness of con- 

 tour, are essential features. The neck should be short and 

 of moderate thickness, showing plenty of beef character, 

 yet lacking the heaviness of the bull and the thickness of 

 the steer. The neck is an important indicator of feminine 

 character, and judges look with disfavor upon a cow with 

 this part heavy and masculine. The neck should blend 

 nicely into well-laid shoulders, but the cow should not carry 

 so much squareness or fullness of breast and shoulders as 

 the bull. The space between the forelegs is less, the arms 

 are not so broad and powerful, and the shoulders are of 

 lighter build than with the bull. Great depth of chest and 

 strong spring of forerib is sought after. The udder of the 

 beef cow is not expected to produce as much milk as the 

 dairy cow, but it should show both size and capacity. It 

 should be nicely extended in front and behind, have a mel- 



