46 METHODS IN JUDGING AND SELECTION 



important to have the front feet on a level with the rear feet. 

 If otherwise placed they will appear high or low at the withers, 

 as the case may be. A position assumed to emphasize good 

 qualities is permissible while one assumed to cover faults 

 is deceit and, therefore, objectionable. There is always 

 an opportunity to deceive the eye, and especially is this 

 true with the beginner. Salesmen and showmen sometimes 

 take advantage of these points to sell or exhibit an animal 

 which otherwise might be an encumbrance on their hands 

 or a loser in the show ring. Many other gross and minor 

 practices are resorted to in showing animals. The fairness 

 of such practices are, of necessity, questionable. 



System. — Decisions are reached most accurately and com- 

 prehensively by using some definite method of procedure. 

 This is important for the beginner, although the best 

 judges use system. This may not be readily apparent to 

 the observer, but if a close watch is kept on the movements 

 of the judge it will be noticed that he usually has a definite 

 order in which he surveys the animals in a class. Even the 

 judge himself may not be aware that he uses system in his 

 work. In such cases it is merely intuition which prompts 

 and which thereby obtains the most accurate decisions in 

 the briefest period of time. 



Point of Approach. — In examining a class of animals the 

 student should proceed as quietly as possible, approaching 

 the animal from the front, not only to avoid frightening a 

 nervous animal, but because this is the logical viewpoint 

 from which to start the examination. It also permits a 

 student class to proceed with work in a regular manner 

 without any unnecessary delay. This is very important, 

 especially where a large class of animals is to be gone over. 

 Regularity and promptness are not only important but 

 necessary in live stock judging for accurately coordinated 

 results. 



Genoral Examination.— In judging live stock it is important 

 that some regular method of procedure be employed to 

 determine the merits of the individual or class. By so doing 

 much greater headway can be made than by following a hap- 

 hazard method of making the comparisons. If the animal 



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