56 LIVE-STOCK JUDGING 



involves fractions of years and months. Age is often 

 expressed by two-tooth or four-tooth, as one pair of 

 permanent incisors has appeared in one year, two pairs 

 in two years. 



70. Determination of the age of hogs. — Little thought 

 is given to the determination of the hog's age by his teeth. 

 It is difficult, in the first place, to observe his mouth, 

 and in the second place the indications are subject to 

 much irregularity. 



71. Early maturity insures attaining full, normal growth 

 and development at the earliest age. Animals maybe con- 

 sidered to have a definite period to develop in, rather than 

 a definite degree of development to attain in unlimited time. 

 If one does not make steady growth during this growing 

 period, it will be deficient in development when growth 

 ceases. Early maturity is indicated in any class of stock 

 by weight for age and general evidence of growthiness 

 and proximity to final development. 



72. Color has both a market and a breed significance. 

 Certain colors enhance while others detract from the 

 value or usefulness of certain animals. Gray horses 

 withstand heat better than black, white hogs are especially 

 susceptible to skin irritations, to which black hogs are 

 usually immune. The color and color markings are the 

 most striking features of breed type in some instances, 

 as in the Hereford cattle. 



Color is a most convenient aid to an accurate description 

 of an animal, a most important means of establishing 

 identity, as in the case of pedigree registration. For this 

 purpose the various shades of the individual colors, and 

 the exact location, extent and outline of the white mark- 

 ings should be accurately noted. 



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