FEATURES OF ANIMAL FORM 37 



better adapted to meet the requirements of a wider range 

 of usefulness. 



56. Objectionable breed characters. — Unfortunately 

 not all features by which breeds may be characterized 

 are desirable ones. Some most objectionable characteris- 

 tics are transmitted with unfailing regularity, and it is as 

 important that they should be recognized and eliminated, 

 so far as is possible, as that the good features should be 

 carefully retained. Fair treatment of all breeds, therefore, 

 requires that these exceptions to the desirable breed 

 character or type shall be noted. 



57. "Way of going. — The way of going is a definition 

 in itself. It is of principal importance in the horse, al- 

 though the movements of all classes of animals are taken 

 into account in judging. The particular gait the horse 

 goes, the features of the stride at that gait, the pace or 

 rate at which he moves, the action displayed, and the 

 manner in which he places or sets himself while going are 

 all features of the horse's way of going. In the other classes 

 of live stock it is only necessary to note whether or not 

 the animal goes well upon his toes, with pasterns supported 

 and without cramped hocks as in the case of sheep and 

 swine, or, in such a way as to indicate absence of founder 

 or weakness in hind legs, as well as to exhibit the style 

 and animation desired in breeding and show cattle. 



58. Soundness is that condition in which an animal 

 is physically capable of performing the ordinary service 

 of his type or class ; anything that renders him incapable, 

 in any degree, constitutes an unsoundness. Soundness 

 is most commonly considered in connection with horses, 

 but its meaning may be extended to include all classes of 

 live stock. For instance, a cow that has lost one quarter 

 of the udder, a hog that is so badly broken down in the 



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