MARKET GRADES AND CLASSES 453 



12. The characteristic wool of the special breed covering 

 well the body, and particularly the belly; also the scrotum 

 of the ram. 



MARKET GRADES AND CLASSES. 



The most intelligent producer of live stock should have a 

 knowledge concerning the various grades and classes of live 

 stock which fulfil market requirements. Very often a pro- 

 ducer of stock, on account of his lack of knowledge con- 

 cerning these problems, does not receive the maximum price 

 for his product. In studying this problem a clear distinc- 

 tion should be made between classes and grades. A class 

 represents some special type of animal designated for a 

 specific purpose. The term grade should be construed as 

 indicating the degree of perfection attained as compared 

 with the standard for the class. For example, in cattle the 

 market classes are beef cattle, butcher stock, canners and 

 cutters, stockers and feeders, veal calves, Texas and Western 

 range cattle, and distillers, the latter two constituting sub- 

 classes. The miscellaneous classes include baby beef, export 

 cattle, shipping steers, dressed beef cattle and stags. Each 

 of the above main classes is then subdivided into prime, 

 choice, good, medium, common and inferior grades. These 

 represent the principal market distinctions. In certain 

 classes there are additional grades, such as fancy selected; 

 this term being used in designating feeder cattle. 



The division by classes is based on use and into grades 

 on conformity to this use or purpose. The designation by 

 grades is based on weight, quality, conformation, maturity 

 and condition. Horses, cattle, sheep and swine are all so 

 classed and graded, although there are certain specific mar- 

 ket terms which are used in designating each of the classes 

 and grades fixed by different market requirements. 



