52 
BULLETIN 1464, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
out the lean meat. The joints of the legs are moderately large and 
rough. The hide is loose, and the hair has a decided gloss, sheen, or 
silken appearance. 
Only purebred, crossbred, or high-grade individuals of the beef 
type are found in this grade. They range from around 1 year up in 
age but are seldom more than 3 years old. They weigh from around 
900 pounds up, usually weighing less than 1,500 pounds. They are 
extremely scarce at all markets, and the few received usually have 
been fed with a load of other choice slaughter cattle. They are on 
sale in such limited numbers that they can not be said to have any 
season of liberal or light supply. 
Good or No. 2. — Good or No. 2 grade slaughter bulls are somewhat 
superior in conformation, finish, and quality. They tend to be rec- 
tangular and are moderately compact, the body being moderately 
broad and deep in proportion to its length. The head is moderately 
Fig. 23. — Choice grade slaughter bull 
short and wide, and the neck is very short and very thick. The legs 
are short and placed wide apart. The top line is moderately straight, 
although it generally rises more or less over the withers and neck. 
The underline is, as a rule, fairly straight, but the lines of the sides 
are slightly uneven, bulging more or less at the shoulders and rounds. 
The flesh is moderately thick over the crops, ribs, back, and loins 
and slightly thicker over the shoulders and rounds, the animal being 
somewhat uneven in its thickness of flesh. The lines of the crops, 
back, and loins are moderately full and plump and the lines of the 
shoulders, rump, and rounds are very full, plump, and well rounded 
out. 
The fat covering is moderately thick over the crops, back, loins, 
and rump, but is somewhat uneven, being noticeably thinner over 
the shoulders and the rounds. There is only a thin layer of fat 
over the middle of the sides and the lower part of the shoulders 
