CHOOSING STOCK.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1609, 26 October 1882, Page 4

CHOOSING STOCK.

Iy Iniying an animal do not think the pedigi-e^, makes everything all right. Give tlic animal itself a close examination, noting it-* good anil bad points. Lnigc bones indicate coarseness, whether .in cows, slicq».' or ]>itis. An authority on this subject gives the following description of the "perfect animal" :—"ln: — "In the bull, the hea.l bhould be well .set upon a broad, ilren, muscular neck, having the horns shoj fc and not to bright ; the t\iib long and situated nwu the htud, the inhidu skin having nn orange tint; the forehead be broad at this point, nitlia somowh.it cjnuivu appearance between the c\e3 ; the eyes themsi-lvis l.injo, mild, " lustrous, and pvoniinent. The Ijutdior knows if he finds the eye of the calf protuberant, and by elevating the oyolids. seem fat underneath, that the protuberance is caused by fat in the socket ; and if it be found in quantity here, it is a fair criticism that it is well difl'uscd in more important points. A line, flesh-coloured muzzle, with nostrils well dilated ; the neck, us said before, broad, deep, and muscular ; the bhouldci blades wells set towards, the ub behind, and yet stretching out finely toward the "crop,"' Icuintjno deep hollow between it and the ribs : ohe&t deep ; libs well rounded and stretching backwards to the hip-bone, so as to leave no very wide space there. The breadth between the hip bones should l)e pvoporlainato to the length from them to the point of the fleshy rump and the tail set on within the outline. The thighs bhould be well developed and touching each other in■waully to near the hock ; theskm cm oral with thick, soft, somewli.it ciuly hair, and should be to the touch when the animal is in blore condition &oft, elastic, mellow, and pleasant ; but when the animal is fully l<it(howc\ei soft the hair), the skin itaulf should be \eiy Him, lCbUting, resdent to the picture, like tv the feel of a .strained well-distended hair cushion. As be fine mentioned, the bones should be as small as is compatible with the full, steady support of the animal. In the cow we everywhere expect greater roundness of form, a softer touch, wider hips, and more delicate outline. In both a graceful cat ritigu and lively air are desirable. I