TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



229 



feeding period of from 90 to 120 days, choice lambs are expected 

 to finish into the weights most desirable on the mutton market; 

 hence, the initial weight cannot be much under 55 pounds. 



Good feeder lambs. These are often somewhat leggy and 

 coarse, yet capable of making satisfactory gains. They average 

 a little light in weight, and are not so high in condition as choice 

 feeder lambs, hence require a longer feeding period to finish them. 

 Buyers of this grade feed them all winter and shear before mar- 

 keting. This grade especially appeals to buyers who take out 

 lambs a few weeks before shearing time to shear and feed for a 

 short period. 



Medium feeder lambs. This grade is deficient in breeding, 

 form, quality, and weight. They are long, leggy, and angular 



Fig. 70. Common Feeder Lambs. 



in form, and their wrinkled skins are evidence of much Merino 

 blood. 



Common or inferior feeder lambs. Little, light, late-born, 

 weak lambs grade as common or inferior. The market calls 

 them "bums," "culls," "pewees," and "peanuts." They weigh 

 from 25 to 45 pounds and require five or six months feeding and 

 careful management to make the feeding profitable. Extremely 

 coarse lambs also grade as common. 



Yearling feeders. This sub-class is composed only of year- 

 ling wethers, and, as the mutton yearling should be able to sub- 

 stitute for lamb, quality and weight are of great importance in 

 grading yearling feeders. They are not a prominent feature 

 in the feeder trade, as but few appear on the market. The 

 grades are choice, good, and common. 



