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Farmers' Bulletin 1068. 



Quality is desired in beef animals kept for breeding purposes. The 

 animals should have good handling qualities, as indicated by soft, 

 loose, pliable skin, covered with fine, mossy hair. Fine bone is desir- 

 able, but it should be of sufficient size and quality to carry the body. 

 As a choice of two evils it is better to have a little too much bone 

 than too little. 



The condition of breeding animals should be such that they have 

 at least natural flesh enough to indicate vigor. The covering of flesh 

 should be evenly distributed and be free from lumps or patchiness. 



Breed type and color markings are indications of prepotency. 

 The type and form peculiar to each breed should be present to a 



Fig. 9.— An animal with breed type and color markings such as is shown in this illustration will be reason- 

 ably certain to produce good-quality calves when bred to a good bull. 



marked degree. Under this should be included the features of the 

 head and horns and the color markings typical of the breed. (See 

 fig. 9.) 



The sex characters are also indications of prepotency. The bull 

 should show masculinity throughout the body, especially in the head, 

 neck, and shoulders, while the cow is more refined and should show 

 more width and length in the pelvic region. 



The disposition or temperament is only a minor point and is given 

 a low score, but because of bad disposition many animals are sold 

 long before their usefulness is over. A breeding animal should show 

 a docile disposition and a quiet temperament. A bad disposition is 

 most common among bulls, and though it is a quality that does not 

 detract from their usefulness it makes them dangerous to handle. 



