236 JUDGING BEEF AND DUAL PURPOSE CATTLE 



fat to make them sell most advantageously. A good quality 

 of meat is obtained only when the fat is properly interspersed 

 through the muscular tissues and over the outside of the 

 carcass. Animals may be overfinished, however, which 

 detracts greatly from their value. This condition is more 

 frequently met with in the show ring. 



The indications of finish or condition are quite numerous ; 

 however, there are certain fixed attributes which are indicative 

 of this qualification. A finished animal has a round, smooth, 

 plump body in contradistinction to the thin body, showing a 

 decided lack of muscle and fat development. The most char- 

 acteristic specific indications are a fulness at the tongue root, 

 a well-filled shoulder vein, a low and well-filled flank, and a 

 firm, well-filled cod or purse. 



Dressing Percentages. The dressing percentage of carcass 

 beef varies from 45 to 65 per cent. Animals occasionally 

 dress as high as 70 per cent, or over. Such animals, however, 

 are the result of exceptionally high fitting which does not 

 always involve a profitable transaction. The dressing per- 

 centage of an animal varies with the type, age, conformation, 

 quality, and finish or condition. 



Considerable stress should be placed on the probable out- 

 come of an animal on the block. However, high finish does 

 not always indicate that an animal will be profitable from the 

 block standpoint. This is dependent on the ultimate dress- 

 ing percentage. An animal to dress well should be square, 

 low set, deep, broad in the body, compact and smooth, 

 with a relatively large amount of the weight placed in the 

 regions which sell for the highest market price. A good 

 feeding animal should have capacity, yet with all it should 

 be trim and free from excess offal. A heavy-shouldered 

 animal, low in the back, and inclined to be paunchy will not 

 dress a high percentage. Such a condition is usually indica- 

 tive of flat ribs, a large paunch, and excess weight in the waste 

 or cheap parts. Animals making the highest dressing per- 

 centage conform to the block or rectangular, low set, broad, 

 arched rib, deep-bodied sort. 



Marbling of Meat. The marbling of meat is indicative 

 of the interspersion of fat between the muscular tissues. 



