The Somerset reporter., 1902-12-25
CHOICE FEEDERS.
they Are Indicated By Genera
Form, Qunlfty and Constffutfou.

They Are Indicated by General
Form, Quality and Constitution.
If the animals In one grade of stock
ers and feeders are more uniform than
in the Others it is ip the choice grade.
1t may be said That we demand in
choice stockers and feeders. first, the
ability to finish s-as choice or prime
steers, and. second, the ability to make
economical gains in flesh and fat. and
we look for indications of these tenden-
cies In the form, quality and constitu-
ton. The general form should be low
set, deep. broad and compact rather
than high up, gaunt, narrow and loose
ly made. Stoekers and feeders should
be low set or on short legs because
animals of this conformation are
almost invariably good feeders and
capable of early maturity. They
should be deep, broad and compact be-
cause this conformation indicates good
constitution, capacity for growth and
for producing ultimately n relatively
high percentage of the most valuable
cuts. Select feeders with broad, fat
backs and long, level rumps. They
should possess straight top and under
lines which should be nearly parallel;
should be low at the TANKS, thus form
ing good depth, for the barrel of stock
ers and feeders as well as dairy cows
should be roomy. An animal which is
too paunchy. however, is Objectionable
to the butcher. The matter of low
TANKS should be emphasized, as it is
an almost unfailing sign of good constl-
tuition and good feeding quality. 1t
should be borne in mind that the
stocker and feeder, thin in flesh and
largely destitute of external or surface
fat, affords the best possible opportu-
nifty of determining the covering of
natural flesh characteristic of the ami
NAL.
Smooth Outline and Mild Eye.
Secure as much smoothness of out
line as is consistent with low flesh, be-
ing especially careful to avoid too great
prominence In hips tail head and Shout
ders. Avoid rough, open shoulders.
sway backs and large, coarse heads
with small eyes set In the side of the
head. Short, broad heads and short,
thick necks indicate strong tendencies
toward beefmaking. A large, promi-
nent and mild eye Is to be desired. The
mild eye denotes that the animal has
quiet disposition, which all feeders
know Is so desirable In steer intended
for the feed lot. The distance between
eye and horn should be short and the
horn should be fat and of medium fine
ness rather than round and coarse.
The lower jaw should be heavily coat
ed with muscle. The muzzle, lips and
mouth should be large, but not coarse.
Good General Quality.
1t Is well to distinguish between
what might be called general quality
and handling quality. BY general
quality is meant general refinement of
external conformation as seen in the
head, horn, bone, compactness and
smoothness of outline. General quail
ity is affected by nothing SO much as
by breeding Good quality is seldom
found in a plainly bred steer, but is
generally characteristic of well bred
animal While it Is a characteristic
that involves many points and is diff
cult to describe, 1t is this characteristic
more than any other that we depend
upon as indicating that the animal has
within 1t the possibility of making a
prime steer.
Desirable Handling QnRlity.
Good handling quality indicates that
the possessor is good feeder. 1t
shows that the animal is in good health
or thrift and capable of beginning to
gain as soon as an abundance Of food
is supplied We speak of cattle as pos
sesslng good handling quality when the
skin is mellow and loose. A thick
messy coat of hair of medium tineness
and moderately thick skin are desir-
able.-H. W. Mumford, Illinois Expert
ment Station.