.JTDGING LIVE STOCK. 211 



in the feeding animal to furnish the digestive organs with 

 nutrients and thus promote digestion and assimilation of food. 

 The judge of sheep or any other class of live stock cannot 

 afford to overlook constitution as indicated by heart girth. 



The back of the Leicester is strong and straight and broad, 

 as it should possess a wide spring of rib, thus affording ample 

 room for carrying a large proportion of valuable rib meat. 

 The loin is broad and both back and loin are evenly and deep- 

 ly covered with flesh. The hips are full, but run rather nar- 

 row at tail head, which is usually elongated. The neck and 

 back should form a straight line. The body should be deep 

 and thick, with long ribs and straight underline, and well 

 covered underneath. This is important, as it is another indi- 

 cation of hardness to withstand exposure. The hindquarters 

 should be full, well muscled inside and outside, with flesh well 

 carried down to hock joint, thus giving a good leg of mutton, 

 the most valuable cut in the sheep. 



The legs should be strong, clean, and fine in bone, bare of 

 wool, but covered with hair similar to that on face. 



The whole body should be covered with a fleece of long 

 wool 7 to 12 inches. The judge should pay especial attention 

 to the back, where fleece of Leicester is sometimes weak, 

 and to belly covering. 



The skin is a beautiful pink color. 



In handling the Leicester, the covering of the back should 

 be noted, as this breed is disposed to lay on large quantities 

 of fat instead of muscle. Other things being equal, the sheep 

 laying on flesh should have the preference over the one lay- 

 ing on fat. 



Special Points in Judging Leicester Ram. In selecting a 

 ram to put at the head of a flock, it is all-important that he 

 have a good pedigree, and when buying this can be furnished 

 by the seller, but in showing resort cannot be had to this 

 evidence of merit. The judge must use the evidence as 

 shown by the individual. 



The ram should have a masculine appearance. His head 

 should indicate at once that he is a male, and there should 

 be that strength about it that would mark him as a leader; 

 as one that could defend his flock. There is a certain strength 

 and burliness which indicates character. He should exhibit 

 a docile nature, yet a fearless one. His forehead should be 

 wide and rather prominent, with more fullness between the 



