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JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



Fig. 135. — "Just back of the shoulders, over the upper part of the chest, but 

 below the back line, are the crops." 



smoothly, uniformly and deeply covered with flesh. "Width 

 of back adds to its strength and capacity for carrying flesh. 

 A level carriage of back is also regarded as evidence of 

 strength, although cattle buyers care little whether the back 

 is level or not, so long as it has plenty of width and a 

 smooth covering of flesh. The back of young, immature 

 animals should be well carried, and the judge should expect 

 more from them in this regard, than from older cattle 

 where sagging of the back may be due to age, pregnancy, 

 or heaviness of belly. The first essential in any event, is a 

 smooth, deep, uniform covering of flesh, indicated to the 

 touch as the fingers gently press along down the spine and 

 test for thickness and quality. The part most likely to be 

 bare is over the shoulders at the withers. The longer, 

 higher rising bones of the spine, located at this part of 



