SHEEP 391 



handy weights. However, wethers weighing 140 pounds and up- 

 wards frequently grade as prime if their heavy weight is accompan- 

 ied by desirable conformation, quality and condition. These prime 

 heavy wethers are selected for export and for a limited demand in a 

 few large cities, notably Chicago, New York and Boston. 



Choice Wethers. Choice wethers must possess quality and con- 

 dition to a marked degree. Quality in this instance applies more 

 particularly to lightness of pelt and to freedom from paunchineca 

 than to coarseness of features. Wethers of this grade must also come 

 under the light, handy or the heavy weights. Choice wethers are 

 used in the same way as prime wethers, and both are sought by 

 dealers in high class mutton. 



Good Wethers. Good wethers are characterized by coarseness 

 and lack of prime condition. They do not command the highest 

 prices because they dp not dress a high percentage of marketable 

 meat, nor yield a quality of mutton satisfactory to a high class trade. 



Common Wethers. This grade is made up of wethers of in- 

 ferior quality and in perceptibly underfinished condition. But for 

 their undesirable quality they would sell as feeders. They help to 

 supply a cheap city trade. 



Ewes. This sub-class is composed of yearling ewes, surplus 

 breeding ewes, and those no longer useful for breeding purposes. As 

 these different sources indicate, there are wide differences in the age, 

 condition, and weight of the various offerings of ewes appearing on 

 the market. 



Ewes do not sell on a par with wethers, because they have, pro- 

 portionately, a greater percentage of offal and a smaller amount of 

 lean meat. Except in times of urgent demand for mutton, prime 

 wethers sell for at least fifty cents per hundred-weight more than 

 prime ewes. However, when the demand for mature mutton is 

 strong the difference is often no more than twenty-five cents. The 

 higher grades of ewes are used by dealers in high-class mutton for 

 hotel and restaurant trade, but they, of course, are not as desirable 

 as the better grades of wethers. They function somewhat as a supple- 

 ment to wethers. The lower grades are used in cheap city trade and 

 in districts such as mining camps, where there is a call for cheap 

 mutton. Ewos are graded as follows: Prime, Choice, Good, Medium, 

 Common or Culls. 



Prime Ewes. Smooth, highly finished native and western year- 

 ling ewes, and a very small number of well-bred, aged native ewes 

 of prime quality and in prime condition, comprise the offerings in 

 this grade. Since the bulk of yearling ewes are sold for breeding 

 purposes the total offerings of prime ewes are small. Prime yearling 

 ewes may be not entirely above criticism in quality and condition, 

 but because they are light in weight, they meet with ready sale. The 

 strongest demand is for weights not greater than 100 pounds. How- 

 ever, large, smooth, aged ewes in prime condition sell as prime ewes. 

 The supply of such ewes is meager and they go to a trade that could 

 not handle manv of them. 



