256 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



herds, but this is not necessarily so at all. A first prize 

 animal in class might have had but little competition in 

 one case, yet be distinctly inferior to a third prize animal 

 of another class, that had secured this position in strong 

 competition. Therefore, it really resolves itself into plac- 

 ing the herds so that they are arranged in order of merit 

 as a whole, including uniformity and type as vital factors. 



The reasons for placing beef cattle in the ring may be 

 given orally or in writing. For some years, in the students ' 

 judging contests at the International Live Stock Ex- 

 position, written reasons were given, and later these were 

 discarded for oral reasons. In either case it is highly im- 

 portant that the reasons be given briefly and to the point. 

 The following may serve as an example of written reasons, 

 as applied to a ring of four steers used in the classroom. 



"I placed D first, because in general beef conformation 

 he meets the requirements more fully than A, my second 

 choice. D is wider and thicker over the loins than A, and 

 also is longer, wider and more nearly square in the hind- 

 quarters. D is hardly so attractive as A in head and 

 shoulders, yet his firm, smooth, mellow fleshing and fine 

 handling quality indicate him to be the most profitable 

 killer in the ring. His entire make-up and covering of flesh 

 is the sort the butcher wants. I placed A over C, because 

 the former comes closer to correct type, being very com- 

 pact and low set, and much neater in head, neck and 

 shoulders than C. A is especially stronger and thicker 

 fleshed over the loin, at which place C is somewhat de- 

 ficient. While C surpasses A in the length, width and 

 carriage of rump, he is inferior to the latter in his cover- 

 ing of lower ribs and thickness of quarters and develop- 

 ment of twist. A is very neat in his middle piece, while C 

 inclines somewhat to paunchiness, which promises too much 

 waste in killing. I placed B last because he is not a good 

 type of butcher's beast, being too long and upstanding, lack- 

 ing condition, and showing too much coarseness all over." 



