FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 20? 



Among English butchers it is a common saying that "a 

 fat animal dresses itself." Nothing to the author's mind- 

 offers such a deplorable spectacle from a butcher's point of 

 view as a half-fattened, ill-fed carcass of lamb. The meat, 

 from such appears dirty and unwholesome in contrast with 

 the well-fattened one, whose caul and kidney shows up as. 

 clean and bright as the new minted dollar. 



Selection of Fat Lambs. 



A lamb having a fat tail has almost invariably a thick, beau- 

 tiful caul and kidneys a great desideratum. It does not 

 follow, however, that a lamb with a thick caul and kidneys, 

 is in reality a good lamb in the truest sense of the word. 

 The Merino, for instance, as is also the case with the 

 Channel Island breeds of cattle, almost invariably, when in; 

 good condition, carry most magnificent cauls and internal 

 fat, but having been bred along lines other than for mutton 

 and beef production, respectively, are decidedly indifferent: 

 for these purposes. Individuals vary considerably in quality, 

 even among one and the same breed, and fed under the 

 exact same conditions, but it must be borne in mind that 

 the best markets demand a good article, therefore, when, 

 mutton and lamb are considered, none but prime thick- 

 fleshed animals should be selected for slaughter, or for ship- 

 ment at least. 



To ship a half-fat, ill-dressed sheep or lamb to a commis- 

 sion house and expect "returns" equal to those received 

 from the prime article is, to say the least, placing the sales- 

 man in a queer predicament, for he cannot possibly get such 

 results; therefore it is imperative that the shipper be very/ 



