CHOOSING STOCK.

Patea Mail, 16 October 1882, Page 4

CHOOSING STOCK.

In buying an 'animal do not think the pedigree makes everything all right ■ Give the animal itself a close examination, noting its good and joints. Large bones indicate coarseness, whether in cows, sheep or pigs. An authority on this supje.ctygiv.es the following description of the “ perfect animal” “In the bui 1 9 the head should be well set upon a broad, deep.' muscular neck, having the horns short and not too bright. ; the ears long and situated near the head, the inside , skin having ah orange tint ; the forehead should be broad at this point, with a somewhat concave -appearance between the eyes'; . the eyes themselves large, mild, lustrous, and prominent.. The butcher knows if be finds the eye of the calf protuberant, and by elevating, the eyelids sees fat undornt ath, that the protuberance Is caused by fat in the-socket ;-and if It-be found’iri quantity here, it is a fair criticism. that it is well diffused in more important points. A fine, flesh-ooloured muzzle, > with nostrils well dilated; the neck, as said before, broad, deep,: and muscular; the -shoulder blades well set towards the nb behind, and yet stretching out finely toward the ‘ crop,’ leaving no deep hollow between it and the ribs ; chest deep ; ribs well rounded and stretching backwards toward tbe hip-bone, so as to leave no very..wide, .spa§c there. The breadth between the hip- bones should be proportionate to the length from them to the point of the fleshy rump and the tail set on within this outline. The thighs should be well developed, and' touching each other inwardly to pear the hock ; the skin covered with thick, soft, somewhat curly hair, and 'should be to the touch when the animal is in store condition soft,- 'elastic,' mellow, arid pleasant; but when the animal is fully fat (however soft the hair), the skin itself should be very firm, resisting, resilentto the pressure, like to ..the feel >of a strained well-distended hair cushion. .As , befpre-meniioned, the bones should be as small as in compatible with the full, steady support of the animal, In the cow we everywhere expect; .greater roundneks of form, a softer touch, wider hips, arid more delicate outline. In both a graceful carriage and lively air are desirable.