THE JUDGING OF SHEEP 



199 



A systematic inspection of the mutton sheep should take 

 place after the following manner. So far as conformation 

 is concerned, look for the same blocky, fullness of form that 

 would be expected in a fat steer. 



1. Survey for general appearances in the usual manner as 

 previously described with horses and cattle. 



2. Rest the lower jaw of the sheep in the left hand, and 

 place the right about the back of the head or upper 

 part of neck. Then raise the point of the jaw some- 

 what, and part the lips gently by use of the forefinger 

 and thumb of the left 



hand. This enables one 

 to inspect the front 

 teeth, which are found 

 in the lower jaw only. 



3. Inspect muzzle, face, 

 eyes, forehead, and ears. 



4. View the breast and 

 position of fore legs 

 while standing in front. 



5. With the right hand 

 grasp the neck and feel 

 for its size and attach- 

 ment at the head. 



6. Notice the union of neck to shoulders, the covering of 

 the latter and the position of the blades. 



7. Place the right hand on the back, just behind the 

 withers, and the left hand between the legs, on the 

 floor of the chest. This gives one an estimate of the 

 depth of body. 



8. Press the hands on the crops and front flanks, to 

 determine thickness of chest. 



Fig. 122. Feeling for covering of 

 flesh about the tail-head. Photo- 

 graph by the author. 



