Art and Method of Judging Sheep. 225 



way to handle sheep, in order to judge sheep satis- 

 factorily. It should be remembered at all times 

 that in judging breeding classes, one must hold 

 strongly to breed type; while in judging fat sheep, 

 less attention is paid to type, wool, skin, and color 

 of face or legs, and more to the form of the sheep, 

 its proper meatiness, and the best development of 

 those parts which will bring the highest price on 

 the butcher's block. However, fat sheep must also 

 possess some type of their respective breeds. 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR JUDGING. 



The method given should be followed at all 

 times, except in the case of sheep which are per- 

 mitted to have horns, when one does not need to 

 examine the poll of the head; or in the case of fat 

 sheep, when one does not need to look at the length 

 or quality of the wool, or for the color of the skin. 

 All other points are practically the same in both 

 breeding and fat classes. 



The age of the sheep must be determined first 

 of all, so that no exhibitor shows a sheep which is 

 older or younger than the class in which it belongs. 

 Age is a very important point. The writer has 

 judged thousands of sheep at many different 

 county and state fairs, national and international 

 shows, and has many times found sheep that were 



