Art and Method of Judging Sheep. 223 



course no judge can please all exhibitors, as the 

 better animals will win and the inferior ones will 

 always lose. But if a judge who understands his 

 business gives all concerned a square deal, not 

 much criticism will follow his work. The judge 

 who has rated the animals correctly can leave the 

 fair grounds with a clear conscience and with a 

 feeling that he has accorded justice to all. Differ- 

 ence of opinion will always prevail, but on the 

 whole general satisfaction attends the decisions of 

 the capable judge. 



A thorough knowledge of how to judge sheep is 

 highly important not only for the student and for 

 one who intends to judge at fairs, but also for 

 every sheep raiser. In the selection of breeding 

 rams and ewes for his flock, the sheep raiser will 

 be less likely to make mistakes, if he has a clear 

 idea of the best types and forms of sheep. A flock 

 owner often has several well-formed, well-built 

 sheep in the flock but fails to detect them because 

 he is unable to recognize the best types and forms. 

 A great variation is often seen in sheep of the same 

 breed so that it is essential that one be well-in- 

 formed about all the fine points in order to make 

 intelligent selections. This is true whether one is 

 a judge at fairs, a breeder of sheep, or a student 

 in an agricultural college. To know how to judge 

 sheep will aid materially in the upbuilding of sheep 



