406 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



which will give a good return for feed consumed and kill out a valu- 

 able carcass of mutton when fat. 



Quality. Quality is indicated in the feeder in the same way 

 that it is in fat sheep. It is very important in that it adds to the 

 value of the carcass when fat, both in dressing per cent and the edible 

 quality of the meat. It is also very closely associated with the growth 

 and feeding qualities of the animal. 



Condition. By no means should feeder sheep be fat. How- 

 ever, the better type show fairly straight, full outlines because they 

 indicate good growth and a rapid feeding tendency. Then too the 

 very thin lamb is not likely to finish in a normal feeding period and 

 is less likely to possess the thrift and constitutional vigor necessary 

 to make fast and economical gains in the feed lot. The animal that 

 carries some flesh and is in a growthy condition is preferred, at the 

 same price per pound, to the very thin animal because at will finish 

 quicker and to a higher degree even though the gains per day are 

 not so great. 



Breeding Sheep. All the marks of excellence in conformation, 

 constitution, and quality, that are required in butcher and feeder 

 sheep, are just as important in the breeding classes. Because of the 

 action and workings of the law like begets like you cannot expect to 

 raise high class feeders that will finish into high grade butcher sheep 

 from an inferior lot of breeding stuff. 



Besides the above mentioned requisites, special attention must 

 be given to breed type and sex characters. Then too, greater empha- 

 sis must be placed on the character of the fleece, the color of the skin, 

 and the constitutional vigor and thrift of breeding sheep, for with- 

 out such qualities all excellence of form, quality, etc., will avail 

 nothing if the animal is not strong enough to transmit these good 

 features to its offspring. Straight, strong legs, set well apart, with 

 strong pasterns, are also very necessary to the general health and 

 utility for breeding purposes. 



The Ewe. When judging the ewe from the breeding stand- 

 point it should be remembered that she must possess not only the 

 requisites of the fat sheep in general form and quality, and the con- 

 stitutional vigor and feeding and fleshing qualities of the feeder, but 

 she must also possess all those characters that indicate a long-lived 

 regular, and prepotent breeder. To insure a long life and regularity 

 in breeding, the ewe should be rugged in constitution, of good form, 

 sound in mouth and udder, and bear an abundant fleece of healthy 

 wool. In addition to this she should have a strong maternal nature 

 and feminine appearance. This is indicated by rather fine features 

 about the head, a slender neck as compared to that of the ram, es- 

 pecially deep, round ribs, with a rather long, capacious body to pro- 

 vide room for the developing fetus. The ewe that will milk well and 

 rear early maturing lambs, tends towards the wedge shape, being 

 deeper in the chest, larger bodied, and wider across the loin and hips 

 than the ram. She should not carry excessive fat. The flesh should 

 be firm and evenly distributed, and not gathered in blubbery patches 

 about the tail-head. 



