216 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



The division of the sheep in each class into sub-classes is 

 determined either by age or sex. The division of the sheep in 

 each sub-class into grades depends upon their comparative merits 

 and faults and is more arbitrary than the division into classes 

 and sub-classes. 



Native and western sheep. Before taking up a description 

 of the various classes, sub-classes, and grades, it is necessary 

 to explain the differences between native sheep and western 

 sheep. Broadly speaking, native sheep are those kept in small 

 flocks on the farms of the central, southern, and eastern states, 

 while western sheep are those coming to market from large bands 

 on the ranges of the western states. There is also a difference 

 in the breeding; western sheep have a large proportion of Merino 

 blood, whereas natives have mostly a mutton ancestry. Western 



Fig. 59. Prime Native Lambs. 



Bred and fed by the Iowa State College. 



sheep are white faced and usually show more or less wrinkles, 

 particularly below the neck; native sheep are mostly brown 

 faced and are usually free from wrinkles. Range methods of 

 feeding and management, as compared with farm methods, 

 result in further differences in appearance and make easy the 

 distinction between natives and westerns. The mutton and 

 breeding classes include both native and western sheep, but the 

 feeder class is composed of western sheep only. Although thin 

 natives are bought up in the country and successfully fed, those 

 that reach the market in low condition do not sell as feeders 

 because they are usually infested with internal parasites, thus 

 making it difficult and often impossible to fatten them. 



