TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



227 



try, other than locally. As previously explained, practically 

 all sheep sold from the markets as feeders are those grown on 

 western ranges. The sub-classes of feeder sheep are lambs, 

 yearlings, wethers, and ewes. 



Feeder lambs. Illinois Bulletin 129 has the following to 

 say regarding feeder lambs: "Feeder lambs are those thin in 

 flesh left after sorting out those in a band in suitable condition 

 for the mutton trade. A great percentage of the feeder lambs 

 reaching the markets fall into that class because of certain in- 

 fluences under which they have been placed. It may be that 

 they have had an unequal chance with those in highest con- 

 dition in the band on account of not being so well nourished by 



Fig. 68. Fancy Selected Feeder Lambs. 



their dams; they may have been born too late to reach that 

 degree of condition, finish, and weight demanded by the packer; 

 or, they may have been held too long at the shipping place on 

 the range or on the road by poor train service without the nec- 

 essary amount of feed, so that the deterioration in condition 

 placed what would have been mutton lambs in the feeder class." 

 Feeder lambs are graded fancy selected, choice, good, medium, 

 and common or inferior. 



Fancy selected feeder lambs. This grade includes only a 

 relatively small number of lambs, because they must meet not 

 only the requirements for choice feeder lambs, but must also show 

 very good breeding, great uniformity in appearance and mark- 

 ings, and a degree of quality that justifies no adverse criticism. 



