CHOICE FEEDERS 23 



and compact, because this conformation indicates good 

 constitution, capacity for growth and for producing 

 ultimately a relatively high percentage of the most val- 

 uable cuts. Select feeders with broad, flat backs and 

 long, level rumps. They should possess straight top 

 and underlines which should be nearly parallel; should 

 be low at the flanks, thus forming what we have spoken 

 of above as good depth, for the barrel of stockers and 

 feeders as well as dairy cows should be roomy. An 

 animal which is too paunchy, however, is objectionable 

 to the butcher. 



Secure as much- smoothness of outline as is consistent 

 with low flesh, being especially careful to avoid too great 

 prominence in hips, tailhead, and shoulders. Avoid 

 rough, coarse heads with small eyes set in the side of the 

 head. Short, broad heads and short, thick necks in- 

 dicate strong tendencies toward beef making. A large, 

 prominent, and mild eye is to be desired. The mild eye 

 denotes that the animal has a quiet disposition, which 

 all feeders know is so desirable in a steer intended for 

 the feed lot. The lower jaw should be heavily coated 

 with muscle; the muzzle, lips, and mouth should be 

 large but not coarse. 



2. Quality — It is well to distinguish between what 

 might be called (a) general quality and (b) handling 

 quality. 



(a) General quality. By general quality is meant 

 general refinement of external conformation as seen in 

 the head, horn, bone, compactness and smoothness of 

 outline. General quality is affected by nothing so 

 much as by breeding; in fact, the two are very closely 

 associated. Good quality is seldom found in a plainly 

 bred steer, but is generally characteristic of a well 

 bred animal. The desirability of general quality can- 

 not be too strongly emphasized. While it is a charac- 

 teristic that involves many points anil is difficult to 

 describe, its presence or absence is quickly discerned 

 by the trained eye of the intelligent buyer. It is this 



