MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF CATTLE 
67 
moderately large deposits of fat in the brisket, flank, twist, and cod 
which cause these parts to be moderately distended or rounded out. 
The animal is moderately refined, the head being clean-cut and 
chiseled in appearance. The bones of the legs are of medium size 
with the joints smooth and free from coarseness. The hide is pliable 
and moderately thick, and the hair is fine. The animal appears very 
quiet in disposition, having eyes which are large and bright with a 
placid expression. The flesh of the animal is usually firm. 
Steers of this grade are always high-grade, crossbred or pure- 
bred individuals of beef type. Load lots of this grade must be uni- 
form in color, age, weight, and breeding. The usual age limits for 
stocker steers of this grade are 6 to 18 months, whereas feeder steers 
of the same grade range from 18 to 30 months old for the most part 
or in a few instances somewhat older. They are very scarce at all 
Fig. 30. — Choice grade feeder steer 
markets but are usually found in limited numbers at a few of the 
larger marketing centers. They are most plentiful during the late 
summer and fall months and scarcest during the winter and spring 
months. 
Choice or No. 1. — Choice or No. 1 grade feeder and stocker steers 
are markedly superior in conformation, finish, and quality. The 
head is short and wide and the neck is also short. They are compact, 
the body being wide and deep in proportion to its length, with legs 
which are set wide apart and are short in proportion to depth of 
body. Top and underlines are approximately straight and level 
and the lines of the sides are straight and parallel. The chest is 
wide and deep and the animal has an exceptionally good middle, being 
full in the crops with a straight wide back and loin; it has long, 
well-sprung ribs and a belly which is wide and deep but not paunchy, 
