CHAPTER V. 



FACTORS AND PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO 



THE JUDGING AND SELECTION OF 



LIVE STOCK. 



INDIVIDUAL MERIT. 



In judging the various types, breeds, and classes of animals, 

 there are certain fundamentals which are directly related 

 to their form and functioning capacity. These points are all 

 of primary importance and may be accurately measured when 

 compared with the proper standard significant of the breed, 

 type, or class in question. 



Utility. — A proper definition of the term utility is funda- 

 mental for accurately judging all classes of live stock. 

 Insufficient evidence of utility or conformity to a standard 

 is largely responsible for eliminating individuals from a 

 placing. Animals are not always eliminated from the 

 judging ring because of absolute inferiority, but rather 

 because of improper adaptation to the standard with which 

 they are to be compared. Before making a decision on a 

 class of individuals, one should become thoroughly acquainted 

 with the purpose for which the animals are being judged. 

 Unless such information is first obtained gross errors may 

 occur in the decisions. 



There are instances where the most inferior animal in a 

 class might be placed at the head because of its closer con- 

 formity to the type taken for the standard. A fat steer 

 in a feeder class might be an outstanding winner, barring 

 purpose or utility. It may readily be supposed that such a 

 steer would be popularly classed as deserving of first merit, 

 yet utility or conformity to purpose must be taken into con- 

 sideration. If such a class is being placed from the stand- 

 point of feed-lot adaptation then the thinner and less attrac- 



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