862 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



less. They should bear the stamp and character of the breed they 

 represent. This breed character is a mark of good blood, and it 

 should be manifest in no unmistakable manner. The sire should be 

 impressive, resolute, and of noble bearing. He should be distinctly 

 the head of the flock in every sense of the word. To meet these re- 

 quirements he must have good constitutional and vital powers. With- 

 out these no animal is fit to head a herd or flock. In selecting a sire, 

 look first at the head. If deficient there, look no further, but reject 

 at once. Insist upon a head that faces you boldly with a wide face, 

 a clear, prominent eye, and a robust character throughout. The 

 head should be joined to a well-filled, round, muscular neck, wide at 

 the poll and back of the ears and gradually enlarging in all lines to 

 a strong, full junction at the shoulder, as seen from top, sides, or 

 bottom. This should be accompanied by a wide chest, a prominent, 

 well-filled brisket, and a full heart girth, giving straight, even lines 

 from the shoulders back. A depression either in front of or behind 

 the shoulder, whether at the top, side, or bottom line is an indication 

 of weakness. The back should be strong, wide, and well meated 

 from shoulder point to tail. The hind quarters should be full and 

 well let down in the leg and flank, in order to yield well of high- 

 priced meat. The legs should be placed wide apart and stand 

 straight. Sickle-shaped hocks and weak, sloping pasterns afford suf- 

 ficient reason for condemning an otherwise good sheep. 



RANGE LAMB FEEDING. 



The territory west of the one hundredth meridian, known as 

 the Range, is the great breeding ground for sheep. They have been 

 rapidly crowding the cattle off of the northern portion of this Range 

 territory, and it is quite generally recognized that the range-cattle 

 industry is gradually disappearing, except in the southern section. 

 While this territory is favorable to the grazing of stock in large num- 

 bers, the natural conditions will not permit of the production of 

 sufficient feed to properly fatten and finish the stock grown there. 

 The finishing can only be done by drawing on the surplus grain 

 crops of the upper Mississippi Valley States. This has been largely 

 practiced during the past. Owing to the shortage of good feeding 

 stock in the farming sections, the surplus of grain products, and 

 prevailing low prices, there is a general interest in the character and 

 feeding value of the sheep raised on the Range. (Col. E. S. B. 32.) 

 These sheep have been classified as follows: 



Old Mexico Sheep. These sheep are the direct descendants of 

 the original Spanish Merinos, brought over two hundred years ago 

 by the Spaniards to Old Mexico. They have been bred with scarcely 

 any outcross and are very distinctly marked. They have long legs ; 

 a long thin body, not very deep; small, rather long neck, and 

 a long thin head, carried high. The wool is fine and thin. To the 

 eye they appear almost worthless as mutton sheep, and of still less 

 value for wool. Their good points are that they are hardy, excellent 

 travelers, will keep in good condition on the poorest and driest of 

 ranges, are fairly prolific, and can be herded in bunches of almost 

 any size. They fatten easily, though never looking plump and fat, 



