Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-07-07


bull has the proper form. The back
and h'Td quarters OF beef aniE,al
are the parts that produce the high
priced meat. Great width all along
the back. especially over the lcin:
good spring OF rib. plenty OF depth
and short legs are points that should
be looked for. Long legged bulls are
usually narrow and rangy. The legs
are OF little value as meat. so the
shorter they are the better
Quality is shown by fineneSS Of
hair. pliability OF hide and not TOO
much coarSeneSs OF shoulder. head
and bone. An animal with good quail
ity Will furnish better grade OF
meat. and there will be less waste in
killing.
Thickness OF flesh is one OF the
most important points 20 look for.
BY this is meant not fat but the nat
ural covering OF lean meat Fat can
he put on during the feeding period.
but lean meat cannot An animal
that is thiclSly musclcd nj the begin
ming OF the feeding period will fur
nish carcass that will be well mar
bled with streaks OF fat and lean.
while another on the same feed will
put most OF his fat on in tho form OF
tallow
These same points are the essential
ones 10 look FOR I'm the selection of n
ram or boar. Strong constitution,
wide. deep. blocky form fine quality
and thick fcShing are just as impor-
tant I'm these animals M I'm the bull
OF course n VIII be impossible to
find an animal that is pcrfe;; I'm all
points If the females Ia your herd
are badly lacking In any particular
be sure 10 select n male that Is cspe-
cially strong there. On the other
hand. n slight weakness on the part
of the sire in n place where the fe-
males are especially strong may he
overlooked. An animal that has any
very serious faults. however. should
not he considered for n moment
Dairy bulls lack the fieShing and
compactness that characterize beef
animals. Low SetnesS and extra
width of back are rot So essential
Constitution. as shown by a deep
chest. wide on the bottom aud a
roomy barrel. IS important \ clean
head. smooth shoulder. fine limbs and
pliable skin show. the quality that is
so necessary i'm n dairy animal The
most Important point Is PROFICIENCY
A strong chest, masculine head and
lnrge rudimentary teats are all indl-
cations OF this. The best way 10 fore
cast dairy bulls prepotency. how.
ever, Is TO look up the milk and butter
producing records OF his dam and
granada ms. \ bull out Of n high pro-
ducing COW will almost certainly be-
get heifers that will be high yieldcrs
The most important points 20 look
for IN draft horses. which are the
most profitable kind TO raise on the
farm, are power and endurance. Pow
er is indicated 10y size. compactness
and heavy muscling. especially In the
hind quarters. Endurance is shown
by strong constitution and fine quail
ity, especially of limbs.
Strict observance OF these points in
the selection OF sire OF any kind will
give you an animal that will I'm n few
years bring about a great improve
ment In your herd. Pedigree should
not be neglected entirely In picking
out sire. Its chief value Is I'm show
Ing that the animal is pure bred and
that his ancestors were OF the type
which you wish 10 develop In your
herd. To determine the latter point.
however, requires longer study of
herd books than most farmers have
time for. IL you put the chief stress
upon the individuality Of the animal
and file the pedigree away in drawer
where IL can be referred 10 when nee
essary you will not go far wrong.
When you have found an animal OF
the desired type do not hesitate too