MARKETING THE EAT SHEEP 108 



expert less handling is necessary. If possible, handle some 

 real fat sheep sometime and retain the impression received 

 from them in mind and fingers, and then the comparisons 

 may be made when the occasion arrives. 



The proper weight for fat lambs. If there is an ideal weight 

 for finished lambs, except hothouse lambs, that weight is 

 between seventy-five and eighty pounds, and the nearer the 

 feeder brings his fat lambs to this weight, the nearer he will 

 come to topping the market. If they weigh a little less than 

 this they will generally sell better than equally fat ones 

 that run much over it. When buying feeder lambs in the 

 fall, figure on the length of feed and the pounds of gain 

 that you wish to make, subtract the pounds of gain from 

 seventy -five or eighty, and let the remaining figure be your 

 guide in selecting the weight of your feeders. 



Weight of yearlings. The nearer a fat yearling comes to 

 the ideal lamb weight, the nearer the top of the market he 

 will sell. It is not always possible to buy yearlings light 

 enough. to finish at seventy-five to eighty pounds, but it 

 may be remembered that they will be better sellers if they 

 reach the market fat at a weight less, rather than more, than 

 eighty-five pounds ; for, as has been explained, a light year- 

 ling has a chance of becoming a lamb after he reaches the 

 hooks of some of the packers. 



Wethers. Wethers seldom if ever compete with lambs, so 

 condition is more important than final weight in this class. 

 The best and heaviest wethers fill the export trade, and 

 weigh from a hundred and ten to a hundred and twenty-five 

 pounds. A very fat wether will outsell a fat one, but it is 

 questionable if the difference in price will repay the cost of the 

 extra finish. This, however, depends somewhat on such vary- 

 ing factors as cost of feed, shipping rates, and market prices. 



