Structure
Animal with a big, noticeable chest area. This trait is generally desirable as it indicates good capacity for heart and lung function. However, it is undesirable if the chest is not proportional when compared to the flank.
What is DEEP CHEST?
A term that refers to an animal's proportionality or symmetry when viewed from the side. When the animal looks like all the pieces fit together and cohere.
What is BALANCED?
A term that refers to the breadth of an animal's chest when viewed from the front. Think about it like building a house. If you start with a wider foundation, you can construct a larger, more spacious home.
What is WIDE CHESTED?
This trait refers to the more pronounced upper part of the neck on cattle and swine. This trait is desirable for males but detracts the appearance of femininity from females. This trait is undesirable for breeding heifers.
What is CRESTIER?
"Low slung" is a term you might hear about sheep or goats, and it's all about where the neck meets the body.
What is BAD?
It might not seem like a big deal, but it can throw off their overall look and balance, making them seem less high-quality. So, when it comes to necks, higher is generally better!
What is STRONGER TOPPED?
A term to describe an animal that lacks depth and fullness in its ribcage. This characteristic can affect an animal's ability to consume feed efficiently and convert it to muscle and fat.
What is SHORT BODIED? or
What is SHALLOW BODIED?
A term that can be compared to wearing a belt that's a notch too tight. It refers to animals who seem a bit 'snug' or 'cut up' in their flank area, similar to 'shallow' flanked animals. Imagine a storage container that's a bit too small to hold everything you need. Animals may have practicality or productivity challenges, as they might not have as much capacity for feed intake or fat storage. This can impact their growth and overall body condition.
What is TIGHT FLANKED?
A term used for breeding females that have a heftier look. A combination of a bold rib and deep body that often suggests good breeding potential.
What is BROODY?
"Soft Bodied" is a term used to describe livestock that have a certain fullness and flexibility in their lower ribcage.
What is BAD?
"soft-bodied" is not a desired trait. It typically refers to an animal that lacks muscle definition and appears to have excess fat cover, rather than being firm and well-muscled.
A term that refers to the width between the pin bones (located in the hip area) being narrower. Generally considered a negative trait as it can suggest the animal not being as strong or muscular in this area, affecting its market value and breeding potential?
What is NARROW PINNED?
A term that refers to livestock with a sloped or sharply angled hip structure, where the pin bones sit lower than the hook bones; such a physical trait often impacts the animal's overall balance and aesthetic appeal, and is generally considered undesirable.
What is STEEP HIPPED?
A term specific to sheep. The "dock" is a sheep term for the hip. This term simply means they have a longer, more level hip. This length is measured from the hook bones (front part of the hip) to the pin bones (back part of the hip).
What is LONGER AND LEVELER OUT OF DOCK?
A term used for all livestock, whether breeding or market animals, is described as having a shorter, thicker, coarser neck. It is seen as a negative, but it's all about looks. It doesn't affect how the animal functions or its overall health.
What is PLAINER NECKED?
"Scurred" is a term commonly used for cattle that carry underdeveloped horns. Scurs are typically smaller formations visible on the skin.
What is NEITHER?
This is just a unique trait that doesn't contribute to or detract an animal from their value.
A term used to describe livestock that have a straighter, more vertical positioning in their hock joint, akin to the human ankle. Think of it as wearing high-heeled shoes all the time. Aesthetically striking, but may face discomfort and mobility challenges over time.
What is UPRIGHT IN HOCK?
A term mainly used with cattle, describing the area at the base of the forerib, right behind the brisket and front leg. This area is higher up and further from the ground. It's like there's a rubber band around their forerib pulling that area up. While it might give a sleeker appearance, it's not always the best from a practical perspective.
What is TIGHT HEARTED?
This refers to an undesirable skeletal condition in livestock where the knee is positioned more forward than it should be. This condition, also known as being "buck kneed" or "straight kneed," can limit the animal's mobility, comfort, and reach, particularly in the front end. Animals with this condition are often also straight-shouldered.
What is FORWARD IN THE KNEE?
This refers to female livestock, usually cattle, that have a more prominent navel. While this doesn't affect their functionality or overall balance, it's seen as a less desirable physical trait, as it can reduce the perceived femininity and overall aesthetic appeal of the animal.
What is COARSE NAVELED?
"Wrinkled" refers to the appearance of an animal's ham-loin junction, a critical part of their structure located at the top rear section where the ham meets the loin.
What is GOOD?
This indicates well-muscling, but only good if animal is well proportioned.
A term generally used for pigs, used to describe when the pig has a stouter, stronger-looking jaw. Suggests the hog has some serious muscle, making it more desirable.
What is TOUGHER JAWED?
A term used when a bull's prepuce (the sheath) hangs down too far below the bodyline of a bull. This makes the bull more susceptible to injury and irritation.
What is a LAZY PREPUCE? or
What is a PENDULOUS PREPUCE?
This refers to the visual appearance of an animal's hindquarters, particularly the width and shape of the pins (also known as the hips) and the depth of the twist. A desirable trait that indicates good muscling, a wide pin set, and a deep twist, all of which are positive.
What is EXPRESSIVE FROM BEHIND?
A term used primarily for cattle that describes an animal with extra depth and capacity, especially in their lower body. Indicates the animal has a lot of mass and volume, and is typically associated with a better ability to covert feed into muscle.
What is SOGGY?
When we talk about the 'leanest' animals, we're focusing on the level of finish or fat cover on a market livestock animal. Think of it as the animal's fitness level - if they're leaner, they've got less fat hanging around.
What is NEITHER?
We're looking for the Goldilocks zone, a happy medium. We want enough fat for flavor and tenderness, but not so much that it goes beyond the needs of the animal or the expectations of the market.