Dairy Cattle Judging Techniques

An essential guidebook for anyone involved in the evaluation of dairy cattle! Over 475 photographs showing both the desirable and detrimental characteristics a judge must be familiar with make this the best-illustrated text in the field. The subject matter includes complete background for precise type evaluation, selection within the herd, show-ring judging, fitting and showing, show-ring procedures, placings and reasons in youth and college student judging contests. Among its special features, the volume (1) emphasizes the combination of outstanding production and functional type traits that get sustained and efficient production for a successful and profitable operation; (2) discusses the usefulness of functional type traits in breeding programs, the association of these components with high production and longevity, and the association of type with production for cattle sales; (3) shows the relationship between ideal functional confirmation and high lifetime productivity; (4) explains linear classification techniques, and describes type classification procedures in detail; (5) presents the most widely used and successful method of judging cattle and defines the modern, ideal type for each breed; and (6) features a chapter relating entirely to 4-H and FFA youth judging.