390 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



Prime Yearlings. Yearlings, to grade as prime, must be 

 highly developed in form, quality, and condition, and of a light, 

 handy weight, which ranges from 70 to 90 pounds. The form of the 

 prime yearling embodies symmetry, compactness, roundness, and 

 smoothness with no suggestion of uneven lines or prominent parts. 

 as with prime lambs, so with yearlings, a high dressed percent- 

 age is demanded, and this is not possible with the animal having very 

 coarse features and a heavy pelt. 



Choice Yearlings. Since it is difficult to secure the most de- 

 sirable form, quality, condition, and weight combined in one animal, 

 choice yearlings out-number those of the prime grade. Any notice- 

 able departure from what is considered prime in any of the above 

 characteristics is sufficient to place a yearling in the choice grade. 

 During the winter season when the offerings of sheep are almost 

 wholly grain fattened the greater number of yearlings are in prime 

 condition, but at all times there are offerings that are not of the most 

 desirable form, quality, and weight. Those of more than 90 pounds 

 weight, although they may be in prime condition, rarely grade bet- 

 ter than choice. 



Good Yearlings. With a few scattered exceptions this is the 

 lowest grade of yearlings offered as mutton. Undesirable quality, 

 weight, or condition or a combination of deficiencies in any two or 

 all three of the above will, if readily apparent, place a yearling in 

 the good grade. Yearlings of 110 pounds and upAvards rarely grade 

 better than good, even though they be prime in every other respect. 

 Ill form, general coarseness, and undue weight of pelt are all serious 

 objections and those having such defects are nearly always placed 

 in this grade. 



Wethers. This sub-class is composed of mature castrated 

 males. Since comparatively few native wethers appear upon the 

 market, this class is looked upon as chiefly a western product. It is 

 claimed that there are fewer wethers reaching the markets each 

 year, and if the demand for dressed lamb continues to grow at its 

 present pace, and if transportation lines are extended through all 

 range districts as present indications would lead us to suppose they 

 will be, it is felt that the proportionate number of wethers will con- 

 tinue to decrease. Just now the rangeman has place for wethers if 

 his location is such that the shipment of animals is difficult and ex- 

 pensive ; if he has very cheap grazing lands, and can produce his ani- 

 mals at very low cost ; or if he has too few breeding sheep to run his 

 ranch at its full capacity. 



As a mutton product, wethers are desired in hotel, restaurant, 

 dining car. and steamship trade, or in any place where the com- 

 paratively heavier cuts may be used to advantage. The following 

 grades include the offerings appearing on the markets: Prime, 

 choice, good, common. 



Prime Wethers. The same conformation, quality, and condi- 

 tion are demanded in prime wethers that have already been noted 

 as characteristic of prime yearlings. The most desirable weights 

 range from 95 to 110 pounds, and are popularly known as light, 



