EVOLUTION OF THE BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY 251 



STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND SCALE OP POINTS FOR ABERDEEN- 

 ANGUS CATTLE. 



BULL. 



Points. 



COLOR. Black. White is objectionable, except on the under- 

 line behind the navel, and there only to a moderate extent; a 

 white scrotum is most undesirable 3 



HEAD. Forehead broad; face slightly prominent, and tapering 

 toward the nose; muzzle fine; nostrils wide and open; distance 

 from eyes to nostrils of moderate length; eyes mild, full and 

 expressive, indicative of good disposition; ears of good medium 

 size, well set and well covered with hah*; poll well denned, and 

 without any appearance of horns or scurs; jaws clean ... 10 



THROAT. Clean, without any development of loose flesh underneath 3 



NECK. Of medium length, muscular, with moderate chest (which 

 increases with age), spreading out to meet the shoulders, with 

 full neck vein "". ' 3 



SHOULDERS. Moderately oblique, well covered on the blades 

 and top, with vertebrae or backbone slightly above the scapula 

 or shoulder-blades, which should be moderately broad ... 6 



CHEST. Wide and deep; also round and full just back of elbows 10 



BRISKET. Deep and moderately projecting from between the legs, 



and proportionately covered with flesh and fat 

 IBS. Well sprung from the I 



RIBS. Well sprung from the backbone, arched and deep, neatly 

 joined to the crops and loins 8 



BACK. Broad and straight from crops to hooks; loins strong; 

 hook-bones moderate in width, not prominent, and well covered; 

 rumps long, full, level, and rounded neatly into hindquarters . 10 



HINDQUARTERS. Deep and full; thighs thick and muscular, and 

 in proportion to hindquarters; twist filled out well in its "seam" 

 so as to form an even, wide plane between thighs .... 8 



TAIL. Fine, coming neatly out of the body on a line with the back 

 and hanging at right angles to it 



UNDERLINE. Straight as nearly as possible; flank deep and full 4 



LEGS. Short, straight, and squarely placed; hindlegs slightly 

 inclined forward below the hocks; forearms muscular; bones 

 fine and clean ............... 4 



FLESH. Even and without patchiness 4 



SKIN. Of moderate thickness and mellow touch, abundantly 

 covered with thick, soft hair. (Much of the thriftiness, feeding 

 properties, and value of the animal depends upon this quality, 

 which is of great weight in the grazier's and butcher's judg- 

 ment. A good "touch" will compensate for some deficiencies of 

 form. Nothing can compensate for a skin hard and stiff. In 

 raising the skin from the body it should have a substantial, soft, 

 flexible feeling, and when beneath the outspread hand it should 

 move easily as though resting on a soft, cellular substance, 

 which, however, becomes firmer as the animal ripens. A thin, 

 papery skin is objectionable, especially in a cold climate) . . 10 



GENERAL APPEARANCE. Elegant, well bred and masculine. The 

 walk square, the step quick, and the head up ..... 10 



Perfection 100 



When bulls are exhibited with their progeny in a separate class, 

 add 25 counts for progeny. 



