Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-11-08
HOW TO JUDGE
BEEF CATTLE

Bozeman, October 15:-There is no
question of greater Importance to the
Montana farmer than that of select
ing animals, and this is certainly
made impressive when we think that
some animals sell for five or ten dol
lars more than others. The steers
that bring highest prices are those
that give the largest percentage of
the best meat. Suppose steer
weighs 1900 pounds alive or 800 pounds
dressed. There will be about 700
pounds of marketable meat. The
valuable cuts weighing about $50
pounds will come from loin, back and
thigh, and sell according to eastern
retail prices for $500. An equal
weight Of meat coming from the poor
cuts will sell for about $50. 1t is
evident from this that animals that
have good backs, good loins
and good thighs are going to
outsell those that lack development
III these parts, The profit to the
butcher comes chiefly from the in
creased price on the better cuts. One
hundred pounds difference in the
weight OF an animal will mean an in
creased selling price of SIS to $50, If
that increase comes from good de-
velopment of the more valuable re-
glons Of the body as loin, back, and
thigh, but if this increased weight
comes through development of the
poor regions Of the body as neck and
flank, it will mean an advance in
price Of only 81 or IS. The loin re-
tails for 20 cents per pound while the
flank retails for only three or four
cents per pound.
A good feeder in form is broad,
deep. lot set, with a straight strong
well teshed back and straight under
line. In quality his hair and skin
are fine and the latter pliable: the
bone as indicated by the hair and
skin, head, horns and legs and tail is
fine. The head and legs should be
neat and trim, not large and coarse.
Good quality is very important as it
aids in determining how the animal
will respond to feed and the price
that will be secured for it when sold.
1t means most economical gains and
higher selling prices.
The head Of the animal should be
broad, short, neat trim; the neck
short, broad, and neat; the shoulders
compact and well covered with flesh;
ribs well sprung, coming out straight
from backbone. long and deep giving
good sides with plenty Of flesh; loin
broad and well tleshed; hips wide,
smooth and well tleshed: the rump
long, wide, well filled in with flesh
and smooth; thighs broad from side
to side in line with body, deep and
well tieshed to the hook. The back
throughout should be straight, broad,
and smooth and deeply covered with
good flesh. The backbone should not
be prominent but deeply tleshed. a
feeder will do pretty well if he selects
entirely by the backs. There is no
other print about the animal that he
can cling to with greater safety.
Such animals as described can be
secured My by using good pure bred
sires, wear after year and generation
after generation until not Il trace of
poor blood is in evidence. To cross
breed back and forth with Shorth0rns.
llerefords, and Angus is expensive
and unsatisfactory. The first cross is
good but the successive crosses pr J.
duce poor results. 10 run pure bred
bulls of different breeds together in a
herd is the height Of folly.
TO secure the best of results, the
cattle man must be a reader. a STU
dent. Success does not come by un-
intelligent. hap-hazard methods. He
should acquaint himself with the best
agricultural papers, attend farmers
institutes, farmers short courses.
and schools of agriculture. The
school Of agriculture of the Montana
state college which has just opened
will consider all phases Of animal
husbandry. The students are taught
how to judge, breed, feed, and care
for animals. This is an opportunity
for young men to tit themselves for Il
work whereby they can often increase
their income or salaries many fold.
Advertised Letters.