What characteristic is typically emphasized in the evaluation of modern market hogs?

Modern market hogs are primarily evaluated based on muscle definition because muscle mass is a critical factor in determining the quality and yield of pork. Heavily muscled hogs produce more meat, which is essential for marketability and profitability. In the meat industry, consumer preferences often lean toward lean cuts of meat, which makes the presence and definition of muscles a significant consideration in selection and evaluation.

While length and other attributes like tail shape and color may have some impact on overall appearance or breed characteristics, they do not directly contribute to the economic viability of market hogs in the same way that muscle definition does. The focus on muscle helps to ensure that the livestock being evaluated fits the production goals and meets market demands for quality meat.