FITTING SHEEP FOR SHOW. 2J3 



the animals too much it is often advisable to make arrange- 

 ments to have them hauled from the station to the fair 

 grounds. This is especially true if you wish to move them 

 from the cars to the ground during the heat of the day. How- 

 ever, they may be moved conveniently a considerable distance 

 on foot during the cool of the evening. 



While the sheep are on the show circuit they should be 

 regularly exercised morning and evening if the health of the 

 animals is expected to be kept at its best. 



When the judging day arrives the shepherd should have 

 his sheep in good form and have them so educated that they 

 will stand out bold and free. Do not allow a sheep to stand, 

 as it were, in a heap, but rather aim to have them stand 

 perfectly level on level ground. Never allow a sheep to 

 stand with its head downhill, but rather reverse the position 

 so that its front feet will be a trifle the highest. 



The above methods will suffice for fitting of wethers; how- 

 ever, one may quite safely feed heavier grain rations to 

 wethers than to rams or ewes. 



If the show animals are retained in the flock for breeding 

 purposes they should be reduced in fat immediately after 

 the show season is past. In reducing sheep to breeding con- 

 dition care should be taken to reduce the fat by degrees or 

 very slowly, so that the constitution of the animal will not 

 be impaired. 



