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BULLETIN 434, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
PRACTICE JUDGING. 
Preparing for a judging trip. — Exercises in stock judging, like 
other field trips, are often failures because proper preparation is not 
made for them. The teacher should know beforehand just where he 
is going and what he is going to do. The majority of secondary 
schools do not own a dairy herd, so that it is necessary for the class 
to make use of the cows belonging to neighboring farms. Arrange- 
ments should be made with the farmer so that there will be no 
misunderstanding upon taking the class to his premises. The teacher 
should select herds which contain animals suitable to his purpose 
and. as far as possible, select farms where conditions are favorable 
for judging. It is important to see that there are suitable inclosures 
and facilities for handling the animals. Cows should be selected 
which may be easily handled, especially for the first trip. If weather 
Fig. 12. — Prominent mammary veins. 
is likely to be unfavorable, facilities for working under cover will 
be necessary. Wet, muddy barnyards are to be avoided. The in- 
structor will find it to his advantage to examine thoroughly the 
animals lie intends to use. When comparative judging is practiced 
it is especially important that the teacher be well acquainted with 
the animals and their relative points. The judging trip should be 
announced ahead of time so that all students may be prepared for 
outside work without delaying the class. 
The first trip. — If the students have had no experience in judging 
cattle it will be well to use the first judging period in learning how 
to approach the animal, in checking up and applying what they 
have learned about naming the parts, and in going over the points 
of the card with the instructor. Boys may need caution that their 
approach to the animal may be quiet and friendly. Girls may need 
assurance that they may handle the animal without being harmed. 
