INDIVIDUAL MERIT 61 



in the English type of stock which is very largely bred on 

 the low, square, compact order. From the breed standpoint 

 the two prominent exceptions are the Tamworth and York- 

 shire breeds of swine. The American type of hog is more 

 nearly like the English type of beef and dual purpose cattle 

 and sheep, i. e., parallelogram ic. 



The Merino breeds of sheep, developed for wool primarily, 

 have an unusual conformation due to the wrinkled, uneven 

 condition of the skin and fleece. While the type of these 

 animals is generally that of a parallelogram, their unusually 

 wrinkled condition gives them an odd, ungainly appear- 

 ance. This formation of the skin and fleece has added 

 greatly to their value, however, because of the increase in 

 the surface on which wool may be grown. The Thorough- 

 bred (running) horse, which is bred for speed at the run exclu- 

 sively, has developed into a long, angular, and racy type of 

 animal. Likewise, the race-horse type of the Standardbred 

 trotter and pacer has in many instances developed into a 

 light, lithe type not characteristic of the road-horse type of 

 this breed. With these exceptions noted, all of the important 

 breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and swine should have a 

 broad, deep, long, and compact or close knit and symmetrical 

 form. This is essential in any breed of animals developed 

 for work or for the production of edible products such as 

 beef, pork, or mutton. 



Height. Height is of special significance in the horse. 

 It is determined by measuring from the highest point of 

 the withers to the ground. In other animals the height is a 

 matter of symmetry in the correlation of other parts rather 

 than an absolute determination to a fixed standard, as in 

 horses. 1 



Weight. The weight of an animal varies according to the 

 breed, type, class, individual, age, and condition. In most 



1 In measuring height the horse should stand, on a level surface and the 

 measure made to the highest point of the withers. The legs should be per- 

 pendicular to the floor and parallel with each other. The measuring 

 apparatus should also be held perpendicular to the floor and the cross bar 

 should be level. The shoes should be taken into consideration. The actual 

 height can be determined only by measuring the horse without shoes or 

 by deducting the height of the shoes. 



