396 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



sent back to the market as old. mutton ewes; hence, if the age is any 

 greater than four years the ability to produce profitably for three 

 years is very doubtful. 



Soundness refers to the condition of the mouth and udder. A 

 broken mouth, which means missing teeth or teeth worn down short, 

 indicates advanced age and although ewes may otherwise look desir- 

 able for breeding purposes they cannot grade as choice if the teeth 

 are not intact. It is necessary that the choice breeding ewe have a 

 sound udder and it is pronounced sound when it is soft and pliable 

 to the touch without abnormal development on either side. Any ewe 

 not having a sound udder should be rejected as a breeder, but in the 

 good and common grades some carelessness is exhibited in this re- 

 spect. 



The breeding most sought after is some one of the Down breeds, 

 chiefly because of the dark color upon the face and legs. Early in 

 the season of the breeding ewe trade, when Kentucky, Tennessee and 

 Virginia are taking large numbers of breeding ewes, color has a pro- 

 nounced influence upon the desirability of a ewe. Of two ewes, one 

 with light markings and the other with dark, but equal in all other 

 respects, the one with dark markings is placed a grade higher than 

 the other. It is also desirable that the breeding of choice ewes be 

 such that they have abundant fleeces of medium wool, which means 

 that the wool be of medium fineness and length, dense and evenly 

 covering all parts of the body. Since they are to remain in the 

 country for three seasons the quality and quantity of wool they pro- 

 duce is no inconsiderable item. 



The smooth, low set, symmetrical ewe is preferred over the an- 

 gular, upstanding ewe with uneven top and lower lines. Since the 

 breeding ewe is to produce and nourish lambs it is essential that she 

 be deep and wide in the chest, and that she have a roomy middle, all 

 of which indicates that she has a strong constitution and well devel- 

 oped assimilative powers. Choice ewes, unlike fancy selected, do not 

 necessarily have to be of stylish carriage. 



Choice breeding ewes should have smooth, rather refined fea- 

 tures and bone of medium size. Ewes of this grade are used to pro- 

 duce choice a.nd prime lambs for the spring and early summer mar- 

 kets, and without a great deal of general quality, they could scarcely 

 fulfill their mission. It is well to distinguish between good general 

 quality and over-refinement, as delicate, over-refined ewes are with- 

 out sufficient constitution to be profitable producers. 



While choice breeding ewes should be thrifty and active, fat 

 is not desirable as the purchaser prefers to place these ewes on pas- 

 ture and cheap forage feeds, which will secure the condition desired 

 at a lower cost than the price demanded on the market. Breeding 

 ewes are somewhat like feeder lambs in that they are the result of a 

 sort where those ewes of desirable form, quality, breeding, age, 

 soundness, and thrift, but somewhat lower than mutton condition 

 are selected out from those that are fatter and desirable for mutton. 



Good Breeding Ewes. Several factors combined cause breeding 

 ewes to grade as good, such as undesirable markings, age, weight, 



