SLIPPERY ROCK TWP. - A Slippery Rock veterinarian has an eye and a vision for "the perfect animal."

Dr. Paul Suorsa, a semi-retired veterinarian, recently placed 10th in the 75th annual Hoard's Dairyman Cow Judging Contest.

The contest entails rating five classes of four cows on a 100-point scale. The classes include Brown Swiss, Holstein, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Jersey breeds.

The contest involves judging photographs of the cows in Hoard's Dairyman, which is a trade magazine of dairy farmers. The magazine started in 1885.

Suorsa had an overall score of 466 out of a possible 500. The highest score out of all the entries was 488.

"The first step is to have a vision of a perfect animal," he said. "In cattle judging, the general appearance is nearly one-third of the score."

Besides the animal's appearance, the mammary system and dairy character and capacity are also rated. Each portion is another one-third of the score, with character and capacity sharing the final third of the rating.

Suorsa has been competing in the contest for about five years. He said he practices by keeping back issues of Hoard's Dairyman and re-judging images of the cattle.

There were more than 27,000 entries from all 50 states. The contest also received entries from 11 foreign countries, including Iraq.

He said it came as a surprise when he learned he placed because of the thousands of entries that were submitted.

Suorsa has worked as a veterinarian in the Slippery Rock area since 1966. His main concentration is horses and cattle. He began his career in 1956 in Mercer.

The official results of the contest will be published in the May 10 edition of Hoard's Dairyman. Suorsa will receive a plaque and a cash prize for placing in the contest.

For information on Hoard's Dairyman Magazine, visit www.hoards.com.