THE JUDGING OF SHEEP 



365 



3. The tendency is towards narrowness at the withers 

 and fore ribs with sag of back. Thickness is desirable 

 here, with not too prominent a shoulder. 



4. A peaked, droopy rump is a common Merino charac- 

 teristic, but is very ob- 

 jectionable, and should 



be severely scored. 



5. Look for a thick, well de- 

 veloped leg of mutton. 



6. See that the hocks are 

 straight, and that the 

 sheep stands well on all 

 four legs. Defective po- 

 sition is not infrequent. 



7. Merino sheep have pcor- 

 er feet than any other 

 breed, and require care- 

 ful attention. The toes frequently grow to one side 



or are too long, and the horn 

 grows under so as to give the 

 foot a bad position. 



In judging breeding sheep 

 of any class, the same essential 

 features must be considered 

 that have already been dis- 

 cussed in preceding pages. 



A heavy condition of flesh 

 is objectionable, a muscular 

 animal in good health being 

 most desirable. Sex affects the 

 character of head and neck. 



Figure 162. Judging Merino sheep. 

 Examining the back locks. Photo- 

 graph by the author. 



Figure 163. Judging Merino sheep. 

 Inspecting thigh wool. Photograph 



by the author. 



With ewes, some length and refinement of these parts must 

 prevail, while rams must show a larger, heavier, bolder type 

 of face and eye than the ewes, and a thick muscular neck. 

 The Merino rams, as a rule, have heavy horns at maturity, 



