72 
BULLETIN 1464, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Steers of this grade usually have a predominance of the color 
markings of one or the other of the different breeds of beef-type 
cattle. Their general conformation as well as their color markings, 
however, usually indicates that they are more or less crossed in 
breeding with dairy-type animals. They are regularly on sale 
throughout the year at the larger livestock markets. During the sum- 
mer and fall months their supply often exceeds the demand but they 
are inclined to be scarce during the late winter and early spring 
months. Stocker steers of this grade range from around 8 months 
up to 18 months old as a rule and feeders from around 18 months 
up to 3 years old. 
Common or No. 4- — Common or No. 4 grade feeder and stocker 
steers are much deficient in their conformation, finish, and quality. 
The head is long and narrow and the neck is also long. They are 
Fig. 35. — Medium grade stocker steer 
rangy to a marked degree, the body being narrow and oftentimes 
shallow in proportion to its length. The legs are set close together 
and are very long in proportion to depth of body. Top and underlines 
are irregular and oblique as are the lines of the sides. The chest is 
narrow and shallow and the animal has a poor middle. The crops, 
as a rule, are hollow and depressed and the back and loin are narrow 
and low in many instances. The ribs are short and flat. The belly 
is very paunchy and the rear flank is high. The hips are narrow ; the 
rump is narrow and peaked with the tail head much too high or 
drooped. The thigh is narrow and deficient and the twist is shallow 
with the seam of the twist appearing shallow and high. All parts 
are very thin in fleshing, causing the bones of the shoulders and the 
hips, the backbone, and the ribs to appear prominent to a marked 
degree. The way in which the different parts of the animal are 
