14 Miscellaneous Circular 74, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 
ful farmer would select if he wished to start a herd with moderate 
means and decided to pick out his cows at a public stockyard. 
The demonstration would be more striking, perhaps, if the original 
cows were grossly inferior, as of the canner grade, but it would not 
be the natural way for any sensible person to start unless he already 
owned such cows. 
Pen 3—This pen contains 10 cows of the first-cross daughters of the 
foundation cows and purebred sires. They are mature animals 5 to 
9 years old. “These cows,” an employee explains, “represent a 
practical type of farmer’s cow.” 
Comparing them with the original cows in pen Q, it is noticeable 
that they are smoother, have better top and bottom lines, have heavier 
loins and hind quarters, and show greater refinement. The refine- 
Fic. 6.—A first-cross cow obtained from the mating of a purebred Shorthorn bull 
and a foundation cow. She is well fleshed, blocky, and beefy. Though rough and 
lacking in quality, this cow is plainly better than the foundation cows 
ment is especially marked about the head and shoulders of this group, 
compared with the foundation cows. 
Pen 4.—The fourth pen contains 10 cows that would do credit to 
any farm. These are second-cross cows 5 to 7 years old, the placard 
states, representing the second generation from the foundation 
stock. Compared with the cows already seen, those in this pen are 
deeper bodied, have straighter top and bottom lines, are thicker 
fleshed, smoother over the hooks, rump, and shoulder, and are heavier 
in the loin and rib. Their legs are noticeably shorter and the heads 
still more refined than those of the cows in pen 3. 
These second-cross cows show decidedly superior quality and uni- 
formity over those in either of the preceding lots and more nearly 
approach the ideal type of practical beef cows. Each group observed 
has shown marked improvement over the preceding. 
