Determining degree of muscling should start with evaluating thickness through the center of the quarter. The second view should be an evaluation of base width. A steer that is heavy muscled will typically have good width between its rear feet when it stands and walks. The final view should be evaluation of muscle expression over the top. Heavy muscled steers will have a butterfly shape down the top.

Thin Muscle	Average Muscle	Thick Muscle	Super Thick

The four steers shown in these pictures illustrate animals with thin, average, thick, and super thick muscling. Note the difference in base width among these steers.