212 JUDGING LEICESTER SHEEP. 



ears than is seen in a ewe. His neck should be strong, with 

 well developed scrag. In fact, his whole front should be well 

 developed and possess that strength characteristic of a male 

 in any class of animals. His back, loin and spring of rib, 

 depth of body, and leg-of-mutton, and wealth of wool covering 

 should be those of the breed, emphasized. In examining him 

 the judge should pay special attention to his hind legs and 

 pasterns. A ram with broken down pasterns is practically 

 useless and should not be given a place in a show ring. 



Look as well at his mouth to ascertain if the jaws match. 

 An overshot or undershot mouth are properties that are trans- 

 missible from parent to offspring; especially is this likely to 

 occur when these defects are possessed by the sire. 



Feel the throat carefully to make sure that there is no 

 trace of goitre. 



Finally, make sure that a ram to which you give a place is 

 entire. A ram with but one testacle should be turned down. 



Ewes. They should possess the characteristics of the breed 

 as described above. Unlike the ram, they should be fem- 

 inine in appearance, with strong evidences of vigor and con- 

 stitution and quality, as indicated by bright, prominent eye, 

 deep, wide chest, and prominent breast, good wool covering, 

 pink skin, strong, clean bone. The ewes should possess good, 

 strong, deep middles, with wide hindquarters, as these indicate 

 room for foetal development. 



It should be borne in mind by the judge that Leicester ewes 

 are apt to lay on large quantities of fat along the back, and 

 this is very likely to run down the side and gather around 

 the front flank,and a sheep possessing this character is said 

 to have "slipped." This condition in either a breeding or fat 

 ewe is most undesirable and should depreciate the value of 

 such a one in the eye of the judge. 



