Talk the Talk
This term describes how well an animal’s body parts fit together to create a smooth, proportional appearance when viewed from the side.
What is balance?
This trait describes the animal's width at the ground when viewed from behind.
What is base width?
In market lambs, judges often handle over the rack, loin, and leg to evaluate this trait.
What is muscling?
When sorting market hogs, judges often prefer one that is squarer and wider when viewed from behind because it indicates more of this value-driving trait.
What is muscle?
This is the maximum number of cuts possible in a four-animal class.
What is three?
This livestock term describes an animal with wide, muscular hips and plenty of width between the pin bones when viewed from the rear.
What is big hipped?
When evaluating a market steer from behind, this trait measures the amount of shape and width through the quarter.
What is muscle?
This term describes a market goat that is big boned, firmer handling, and carries more product over its rack and loin.
What is stouter made?
This part of a market hog is often considered the most important indicator of muscle shape and volume and can be viewed from behind or the 3/4 view.
What is the ham?
This view is used to most accurately evaluate muscle and width.
What is the rear view?
This term describes an animal with an extended hip length, which often contributes to better balance, appearance, and stride.
What is long hipped?
In breeding cattle, this term describes a female that is refined through her head, neck, and shoulder.
What is femininity?
When evaluating market goats, judges often look for animals that are wider tracking and this through their stifle.
What is square hipped?
Judges commonly evaluate this area/muscle for width and shape to determine a hog's muscularity through its center body.
What is the loin?
Contestants commonly use this view first when evaluating a class for balance and design.
What is the profile view?
This term describes an animal that has a narrow width between its pin bones, often indicating less muscle and width in the hindquarters.
What is narrow pinned?
In a market steer, this term describes an animal that exhibits extra length from shoulder to hip, often improving balance and performance.
What is long bodied?
The combination of rack, loin, and leg are commonly known by judges as this.
What is the topside?
A judge may criticize a hog for being too steep or short in this area connecting the loin and tailhead.
What is the hip?
The official placing is 1-2-3-4 with cuts of 4-3-2. A judger placed it 2-1-4-3. What did they score?
What is a 44?
This term describes an animal with good rib shape, extra width behind the shoulders, and the capacity often associated with productivity and muscle.
In breeding cattle, this trait refers to the correctness of feet and legs and the ability to move freely.
What is structural soundness?
This body part, along with the loin and leg, makes up the three major muscle areas evaluated in market lambs
What is the rack?
When two market hogs are similarly muscled, judges often prefer the one that is more flexible and comfortable on the move because of this trait.
What is structural soundness?
Many livestock judges consider this the most important viewing angle because it allows them to evaluate balance, muscle, and structure simultaneously.
What is the 3/4 view?