FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 49 



the show season is over?" ''I reduce their fat, sir, but not 

 their flesh, but I don't let them know it." What a deal is 

 inculcated in this remarkable answer! 



In reducing an animal to breeding condition, the idea held 

 in view should be to reduce slowly, and with the least pos- 

 sible danger to the constitution of the animal. To reduce 

 an animal in a careless slip-shod manner will soon show its 

 effects by the coat assuming a lifeless, dull appearance, and 

 ofttimes by the fleece falling out or leaving the skin almost 

 entirely. That soft, glossy, compact and brilliant appearance 

 that denotes good health of the animal must be preserved as 

 much as possible. It is difficult to entirely preserve this. 

 The reduction of fat must be accomplished more by exercise 

 than the decrease of grain, etc., at the first start. The animal 

 should have the run of a good pasture, and then the grain 

 ration may be gradually reduced until he receives only suffi- 

 cient to keep him vigorous and active; care being observed 

 not to allow of his being reduced to "a run-down" condition, 

 or irreparable point. Ewes should be reduced as rapidly but 

 carefully as possible, so as to allow of their being bred as 

 early as possible. Of course I am here alluding to ewes 

 whose days of usefulness for show purposes are over. 



Some little difficulty is usually experienced in getting ewes 

 that have been repeatedly fitted for show to breed satis- 

 factorily. Many of the most prominent English shepherds 

 use a ram lamb on their show ewes, claiming that good re- 

 sults almost invariably follow such a course; whilst others 

 allow two or more rams to serve the same ewe when in sea- 

 son. It is, however, sometimes a very difficult matter to 

 induce a show ewe to breed satisfactorily, and it is found! 

 more profitable in the end to sell her direct to the butcher. 



