232 JUDGING BEEF AND DUAL PURPOSE CATTLE 



strikingly significant of what animals will do when placed in 

 their respective conditions for work. 



Weight and Maturity. From the standpoint of the breeder, 

 a beef animal matures when three years of age. However, 

 the same animal may be matured when from twelve months 

 or thereabout to two years of age from the standpoint of the 

 feeder and market requirements. Animals finished at the 

 former age or somewhat older, go on the market as baby beef. 

 This is a very desirable method of finishing these animals, 

 especially if the dealer caters to a fancy trade. Whether 

 this is a wise practice is dependent on the feeder and his 

 markets largely. While this is a problem which does not 

 concern the judge of animal form, it is important to have 

 a clear understanding of the attributes of early maturity 

 in animals used in the various fields of the breeder, the 

 feeder, and the packer. From the standpoint of the breeder 

 proper, maturity has reference to the time when an animal 

 attains its normal weight and development. This is largely 

 a matter of age, methods of maintenance, and care and 

 handling, problems which do not affect the consumer of 

 the product. 



One of the important requisites of a beef animal is that 

 they show in their structural make-up an inclination to 

 develop rapidly and mature at an early age. This is im- 

 portant, either in the breeding or feeding animal. Weight 

 for age in either case is important. Late-maturing qualities 

 are very objectionable and should be bred out by the selec- 

 tion of animals having an inclination to develop their normal 

 size at an early period in life. Evidences of this character- 

 istic are indicated in a broad, deep muzzle, a wide, intelligent 

 head, a bright, placid eye, a deep, broad, chest; a square, 

 compact body; full hindquarters with compactness, sym- 

 metry, and correlation of parts throughout. The reverse 

 of these conditions is indicative of late maturity, a con- 

 dition which not only makes the growing of beef cattle 

 unprofitable but hinders as well the production of the 

 highest class of beef products. Normal development at an 

 early age is not only important to the breeder, but to the 

 feeder, and indirectly to the consumer, as these character- 



