16 BULLETIN 434, LT. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



PRACTICE JUDGING. 



Preparing for a judging trip. — Exercises in stock judging, like 

 other field trips, are often failures because proper preparation is not 

 made for them. The teacher should know beforehand just where he 

 is g'oing and what he is going to do. The majority of secondary 

 schools do not own a dairy herd, so that it is necessary for the class 

 to make use of the cows belonging to neighboring farms. Arrange- 

 ments should be made with the farmer so that there will be no 

 misunderstanding upon taking the class to his premises. The teacher 

 should select herds which contain animals suitable to his purpose 

 and, as far as possible, select farms where conditions are favorable 

 for judging. It is important to see that there are suitable inclosures 

 and facilities for handling the animals. Cows should be selected 

 which may be easily handled, especially for the first trip. If weather 



Fig. 12. — Prominent mammary veins. 



is likely to be unfavorable, facilities for working under cover will 

 be necessary. Wet, muddy barnyards are to be avoided. The in- 

 structor will find it to his advantage to examine thoroughl}^ the 

 animals he intends to use. When comparative judging is practiced 

 it is especially important that the teacher be well acquainted with 

 the animals and their relative points. The judging trip should be 

 announced ahead of time so that all students may be prepared for 

 outside work without delaying the class. 



The first trip. — If the students have had no experience in judging 

 cattle it will be well to use the first judging period in learning how 

 to approach the animal, in checking up and applying what they 

 have learned about naming the parts, and in going over the points 

 of the card with the instructor. Boys may need caution that their 

 approach to the animal may be quiet and friendly. Girls may need 

 assurance that th^j may handle the animal without being harmed. 



