JUDGING BEEF TYPE OF CATTLE 



243 



Fig. 134. — "The brisket extends forward between the legs." 



gether erroneous. It is a mere appendix to the chest. It 

 is a projection of substance, partly muscular, but more 

 cellular and fatty, from the anterior and movable division 

 or head of the sternum, extending sometimes 12 to 20 inches 

 in front of it, and dipping downward nearly or quite as 

 much. It is no proof of depth of chest. It is found in 

 great size in all the improved cattle, varying in size in 

 different breeds, and in different cattle of the same breed ; 

 and it was always looked for and valued in the better speci- 

 mens of the old cattle. It is very probable that this may 

 be carried too far. An enormously projecting brisket may 

 evince a more than usual tendency to fatten; but not in- 

 frequently a tendency to accumulate that fat irregularly 

 — to have it too much in patches, and not spread equally 

 over the frame. The brisket should be prominent as well 

 as deep; perhaps on one account more prominent than 



