WHAT REPRESENTS BEEF

Shannon News, 8 February 1927, Page 2

WHAT REPRESENTS BEEF

The chief point in a beef animal is a good back. Narrow chines and weak loins are not indicative of good feeding qualities. A straight, wide back with a good chine and loin well covered with natural flesh, a well sprung rib and a good middle piece are points that must be sought for. Deep fore ribs and a good barrel indicate robust constitution with good digestive powers and the capacity to turn the food consumed to good account. Feeding cattle should have good thighs and second thighs and bo good in the "twist" as it is called. Fullness inside the thighs should always be made an important point in buying store cattle, as animals that are weak in their "rounds" are also usually weak in their "roastings." A beast with narrow, split up thighs and a poor "twist" is certain to be a light-fleshed one and a bad feeder ■ —the neck, shoulders, and flank only produce meat of inferior Quality, but a strong, thick neck always goes with a thick-fleshed carcase, and a beast with good thighs invariably has a good flank. The importance of "character" is not confined to breeding stock. Experienced feeders like to see a good head on a bullock. A wide head and a broad muzzle indicate growth and feeding capacity, and if a beast has a big head he generally grows up to it. A. good coat is another.important point, and so is "handling" indicative of quality.