JUDGING BEEF TYPE OF CATTLE 235 



tion by observation, partly by means of the eye, and partly 

 through the sense of touch, or by "handling," as it is 

 termed. In the latter method, with the fingers close together, 

 the judge passes the hand over the parts where one should 

 find a smooth, thick, firm covering of flesh. The center of 

 back along over ihe spine, the shoulders and rib-covering are 

 lightly pressed upon with the tips of the fingers, by which 

 means the depth of flesh, its firmness and uniformity of 

 covering are easily determined. Often bare spots occur, 

 with little flesh over the bone. An animal may be in good 

 condition, ready for slaughter, yet bare on the shoulder. 

 Or the back may be well covered its entire length, yet the 

 lower part of the ribs be more or less bare. Cattle in high 

 condition frequently have rolls of hard fat on the ribs, 

 back and rump, especially at the end of the latter, on 

 each side of the tail head, which in consequence takes on a 

 "patchy," or lumpy appearance. A dimple or tie in the 

 center of the back, due to a short ligament connecting skin 

 and backbone, is frequently associated with high condi- 

 tion. This dimple, rolls of fat, and bareness of covering, 

 all combine to produce a carcass that will not dress out to 

 the greatest advantage. In the modern show ring, the con- 

 dition demanded is a smooth, uniform distribution of deep, 

 firm flesh, with no roughness at any point, and that will 

 furnish cuts the exterior of which will be well laid with 

 flesh. If an animal is in high condition and over-fat, then 

 the flesh is soft and tallowy, and will show waste and too 

 great a percentage of fat in the carcass. The degree of con- 

 dition or finish is indicated by the thickness of the hind 

 flank when grasped in the hand, by the amount of fat 

 about the root of the tongue, as seen back of the jaw, and 

 by the fullness or fatness of the cod ^ of the steer. The 

 butcher often feels of the covering over the pin bones or 

 ends of rump, for a co-relationship seems to exist between 

 this covering and the general condition. In scoring con- 

 dition, one might discount 20 per cent for an animal 



1 The scrotum or testicle of the male ox. 



