176 METHOD OF JUDGING SHEEP. 



finger just enough to acquaint himself with the quality and 

 depth of the flesh underneath his touch, at the same time 

 noticing the density of the wool. This must be done with a 

 good firm pressure, otherwise one cannot form a correct 

 notion of the qualities he wishes to pass judgment upon. 

 It is a bad sign to see a judge stick his fingers down into 

 a fleece. Then he places the left hand on the floor of the 

 chest and the right on top of the shoulder to ascertain the 

 depth, and while in this position he examines the under parts 

 to find out if the sheep is as well covered with wool as it 

 should be. With both hands he feels the sheep just behind 

 the shoulder for spring of rib and thickness through heart 

 girth, and on further back to ascertain the covering of flesh 

 on the ribs. In a similar manner he measures the width of 

 loin, at the same time notices its depth. Both hands should 

 be used then in ascertaining the form and filling of rump 

 and hindquarters. Observe the filling of the hindquarter on 

 the outside of leg, and with the hand grasp the leg-of-mutton 

 firmly to find out if the leg is well filled on inside, and the 

 distance to which it is carried down towards the hock. No- 

 tice also the depth of twist and spread of hind legs. When 

 examining the fleece, as we shall take it up in another les- 

 son, observe also the color of the skin. 



It must be remembered that the handling is done, and 

 must be done, to arrive at the correct form of the animal. 

 No sheep appears in the show ring in his natural covering, 

 but is trimmed in such a way as to conform to the type of the 

 showman's ideal. A sheep with plenty of wool and ap- 

 proaching this type can be trimmed to appear like the perfect 

 animal. 



Besides the conformation and mutton qualities of a sheep, 

 it is necessary to take into consideration the value of its 

 fleece. In order to do this it will be necessary to devote a 

 short time in studying what constitutes a valuable fleece, 

 and this will be done in a succeeding lesson. 



