224 



TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



Yearlings. This sub-class includes yearling wethers only. 

 Yearling ewes are excluded. Yearlings are used as a substitute 

 for lambs in the meat trade. The ability to substitute for lamb 

 depends upon weight, quality, condition, and immaturity; for 

 the nearer the yearling approaches the prime lamb in these 

 respects, the better he fulfills his function. An index greatly 

 depended upon for identifying the carcass of a young sheep, 

 or lamb, is the "break- joint," which was described in Chapter 

 XVI. Most yearling wethers will "break," whereas most year- 

 ling ewes will not. This explains the inability of the yearling 

 ewe to substitute for lamb, and hence the term "yearling" on 



Fig. 66. Good Yearlings. 



the sheep market includes wethers only. Yearlings are commonly 

 referred to as "lights" and "heavies," according to weights. 

 Each year there are a number of lambs that for one or more 

 reasons should not be marketed as lambs, and hence the pro- 

 duction and marketing of yearlings is economically justifiable. 

 The grades are prime, choice, and good. 



Prime yearlings. To grade as prime, yearlings must be 

 highly developed in form, quality, and condition, and of a light, 

 handy weight, ranging from 70 to 90 pounds. Correct form 

 in the prime yearling necessitates symmetry, compactness, 

 roundness, and smoothness, with no suggestion of uneven lines 



