A short, thick, coarse head is an indicator of what type of gilt?

A short, thick, coarse head is typically associated with a masculine appearance in gilt selection. In the context of livestock evaluation, particularly with swine, femininity is often characterized by a more refined and elongated head. Feminine gilts are generally observed to have more delicate features and a smoother appearance, which is indicative of better reproductive potential and overall health.

On the other hand, traits such as a coarse head might suggest a more robust and masculine characteristic, which is not desirable in a female gilt intended for breeding purposes. A high-yield gilt, while important in terms of production traits, does not specifically correlate with head structure but rather focuses on the animal's capacity for producing offspring or marketable products. Similarly, while health is crucial, the physical appearance described does not inherently reflect health status.

Thus, identifying a gilt with a short, thick, coarse head more closely aligns with masculine traits, making the choice of a feminine gilt not applicable here. However, this also reinforces the clear distinction in livestock evaluation between desirable traits for bred females versus market qualities in other categories.