ARRIVING AT DECISIONS 55 



conclusions. The first decision, if carefully reached or 

 decided upon, is usually the most accurate, granting that 

 the student has proceeded in his examination with a determin- 

 ation to locate the various points of merit accurately and 

 place the class accordingly. If an animal is viewed hurriedly 

 and no definite impression is made of the basic merits or 

 faults possessed it will usually cause misjudgment. It 

 will save time and usually induce greater accuracy to survey 

 carefully both major and minor merits and faults during the 

 first examination. 



Arriving at Decisions. — Decisions are based on ideals and 

 reached in the following manner : 



Basis of Judgment. — Live stock judging implies the passing 

 of judgment on a class of animals from some specific view- 

 point. The establishment of distinct types, breeds and 

 market classes is fundamental in fixing the viewpoint from 

 which the student or show ring judge may work. Modern 

 live stock judging implies a fixation of type from the standard 

 of which the awards in a class must be made. It is very 

 important that before judging begins a standard of com- 

 parison or purpose be established upon which the decisions 

 may be based. A class of mares, for example, may be judged 

 either as purely draft animals, as breeders, or a combination 

 of the two. Unless the standard is understood in the be- 

 ginning there is likely to be a great variation in the awards 

 owing to the difference in the standards selected. Two 

 mares judged strictly as draft animals might be reversed 

 when judged from the breeding standpoint. It is this 

 basis of judgment which must be kept constantly in mind to 

 avoid erroneous decisions. In judging any class of animals, 

 the basis or standard of comparison should first be clearly 

 fixed in the mind, and then each animal should be placed 

 according to the degree of conformity to this basis or stand- 

 ard. This rule is fundamental in all live stock judging. 



Culling Inferior Animals. — If the class which is being 

 judged contains a large number of animals it is usually good 

 practice to go through the entire number and eliminate those 

 which have no chance of winning a place. By so doing, it 

 will avoid any burden to the mind or eye which the viewing 



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