Fitting Wethers for Shows. 199 



merly, only once in a while were a few fat wethers 

 imported from England, and it was therefore left 

 to the shepherds of this country to fit and prepare 

 the candidates in this class of sheep for our fat 

 stock shows. During recent years, however, the 

 American fitter has been compelled to stand face 

 to face in the fat stock show ring with his English 

 and Canadian brothers, who have brought their 

 home-fitted wethers directly from their native 

 country to the International Live Stock Show and 

 other fat stock shows. It can easily be understood 

 what^a struggle it must be to compete with an En- 

 glish fitter, considering the climatic conditions and 

 other advantages which the English have over the 

 Americans. Therefore, the American who suc- 

 ceeds in defeating the imported English stock has 

 won a great victory. 



Type, fleece, and color of skin are not as essen- 

 tial in the show ring for fat wethers as for sheep 

 of the breeding classes, because there are other 

 factors of still greater importance for sheep to 

 go on the block. In the fat wether on the hoof his 

 form and the amount and kind of flesh he carries 

 are the most important points. When on the block 

 the most essential points of the carcass are the per- 

 centage of edible meat, and the quality, color, and 

 marbling of the meat. There are three distinct 

 classes of wethers. The first class is not far 



