TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 457 



BUCKS AND STAGS. 



"On the market rams are designated as 'bucks.' Stags are males cas- 

 trated later than the lamb stage of life, and they sell on a par with 

 bucks. Strictly speaking, bucks are not graded, although the terms 

 'choice,' 'good,' and 'common' are frequently used." 



FEEDEE SHEEP. 



"Whenever sheep are too low ■ in condition to suit the needs of the 

 packer, they fall into the feeder class, unless they be extremely coarse in 

 quality or weakened in vitality because of disease or advanced age. 



"The heavy run of feeder sheep occurs in the months of September, 

 October, and November, when rangemen are reducing their flocks and 

 preparing for the winter months. However, buyers are constantly look- 

 ing for thrifty, underfinished stuff, and a limited number of feeder sheep 

 go out from the market every week in the year. * * * Practically all 

 the sheep sold as feeders are grown on the western ranges. * * * The 

 following are the recognized subclasses of feeder sheep: Lambs, year- 

 lings, wethers, ewes." 



Lamhs. — Feeder lambs are those thin in flesh left after sorting out 

 those in a band in suitable condition for the mutton trade. The grades 

 recognized on the market are fancy selected, choice, good, medium, com- 

 mon, or inferior. 



"Fancy selected feeders must not only possess the characteristics of 

 choice feeders, as noted (below), but in addition they must be uniform 

 in breeding and markings, and show an unusual amount of mutton blood 

 for range lambs. Their quality, as evidenced by clear-cut features, clean 

 limbs, light and smooth pelts, must be practically above criticism. They 

 are nearly always slightly higher in condition and heavier than the av- 

 erage run of feeder lambs, ranging in weight from 65 to 70 pounds, and 

 in that state of thrift where gains can be placed on them rapidly. If 

 properly handled, they are the grade of feeders that will finish quickly 

 into prime lambs. Not many of this grade of feeders are to be found 

 on the markets. * * * 



"Choice feeders will develop into choice and prime mutton lambs if 

 properly managed. Of the grades that come to the notice of buyers gen- 

 erally, they are probably more uniform than any other, and in order to get 

 a fixed standard from which to make comparisons, this grade is described 

 in detail. 



"What the buyer expects of choice feeders is the ability to finish into 

 prime or choice mutton lambs, and to produce gains at economical fig- 

 ures. The selection of such lambs is based upon form, quality, constitu- 

 tion, condition, and weight. 



"In general, the form should be deep, broad, well knit, of medium 

 length and low set. This conformation indicates early maturity, good 

 constitution, capacity for growth, and a likelihood of finishing into an 

 attractive carcass with a relatively high percentage of valuable cuts. 



