I am probably looking at these heifers a little differently that some other would, as I am looking at what I think they will become once their show career is over and they hit the real world. I will say, that all four heifers are females of value, and each could be the best for a specific breeding purpose. I think everyone in this business would be better off if there was much more emphasis placed on structural issues in the show ring.
I am going to disagree with everyone so far, and place these heifers 1-3-2-4.
I think #1 has a beautiful amount of balance and style. She combines evidence of muscling yet looks like a female. Great stifle and lower quarter in her. I think she is just as deep as any female pictured. She is a little longer spined so she may give the illusion of being not as deep. She appears to have good volume and thickness. Of course some pictures from the rear would greatly help. I just think this female combines a bunch of good qualities and she could be used with a larger variety of sires to produce some outstanding progeny.
I am putting #3 second, simply because she is going to make one awesome cow. She is the best headed, and has the most volume I think she is probably the best of all the heifers in the transition from shoulder through her heart, and she also has good evidence of volume, and looks like she would be the easiest fleshing of these females. I almost put her 1st, however, she gives up some length and a touch of style, to #1. It is hard to tell from this picture, however, if I could change her, I would extend her spine just a little more, so that her tail hangs straighter to a 90 degree angle from where it attaches.No matter how much muscle a female has, I find that they will be very fertile if their tail hangs straight down If it doesn't there usually are infertility issues. This heifer is probably fine in this regard, however, the picture makes it a little hard to tell for sure. Both #1 and #3 have good shoulder angle and have the best forearm of the heifers. I have no doubt that both these heifers will be easier fleshing throughout their lives than the other two heifers.
I think #2 and #4 are the frailest of the four heifers. They are the tightest fronted and appear to be the poorest headed. I put the #4 heifer last simply because I do not think she has a proper head to make a good female. I am a strong believer that you can tell more from looking at a female's head as to her breeding ability, than any other part of her body. We have a very successful sale manager here in Canada, that oftentimes asks for a picture of a females head and he will select for sales just from that picture. He is seldom very far off the money.
Both these females are the cleanest through their fronts, but in my opinion they are close to that magical line that seperates femininity from fraility. They are both the weakest jawed females in these four IMO, and that has a big bunch to do with fleshing ability.
#4 has good balance and is ultra clean made, but she lacks some breed character in my opinion, and I think she will need to be kept in the spare bedroom or near a corn crib if she is going to ever see 8 years of age.
I will also add that I reserve the right to change my mind. haha. Until the class is done, a judge can do that can't he????
