230 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



Feeder wethers. The supply is very small. The grades 

 are choice, good, medium, and common. 



Feeder ewes. Most ewes suitable for feeding bring a 

 higher price when sold for breeding purposes, hence the supply 

 of feeder ewes is small. They exhibit considerable variation in 

 condition, quality, and thrift, and are graded choice, good, 

 medium, and common. 



Breeding Sheep. 



Both native and western ewes are included in this class, 

 but breeding bucks are exclusively natives. Bulletin 129 of the 

 Illinois Station has the following to say concerning this class: 

 "The ewes most sought after are two-, three-, and four-year-old 

 dark-faced natives in ordinary field condition. Dark-faced 

 ewes sell better than those that are otherwise their equals, be- 

 cause their lambs, being dark faced, sell better than light-faced 

 lambs on the eastern markets. Western ewes are very popular 

 for breeding purposes in certain localities, as Ohio, Michigan, 

 and Western New York, and many engaged in the trade think 

 they should be preferred over natives, because they are more 

 hardy and comparatively free from internal parasites. Many 

 of the ewes offered for breeding purposes are yearlings, but 

 they are not as desirable as two- or three-year-old ewes because 

 they are immature and likely to be unsatisfactory at their first 

 lambing. The native yearling is heavier and more nearly mature 

 than the western yearling, and she meets with a correspondingly 

 better sale." Breeding ewes are graded fancy selected, choice, 

 good, and common. 



Fancy selected breeding ewes. This grade of ewes is com- 

 posed of the few high grades of the middle-wooled breeds, usually 

 grade Shropshires, which reach the market. They must be not 

 only thrifty and sound, but uniform in quality, form, fleece, 

 and style. 



Choice breeding ewes. Most of the desirable breeding 

 ewes found on the market belong to the choice grade. Eligi- 

 bility to this grade is based upon form, constitution, age, sound- 

 ness, breeding, quality, and condition. Below, the writer again 

 quotes from Illinois Bulletin 129. 



1. Form. "The smooth, low-set, symmetrical ewe is pre- 

 ferred over the angular, upstanding ewe with uneven top and 

 lower lines. * * * Choice ewes, unlike fancy selected, do 



