178 MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



POINTS OF SHEEP. 



The points to be looked for in a ram and the ewe as well, 

 in proportionate degree are a large though well-proportioned 

 head, width between the ears and eyes, a thick neck or scrag, a 

 widely distended nostril, thick heavy loins, crops and twists ; broad, 

 full chest and brisket ; level, strong back and full level flanks. 

 Such are invariably "good cutters" and carry mutton of the bast 

 quality. A ram weak in scrag, loin or twist, is entirely unfit to 

 head a flock. There seems to be pretty well-defined laws in sheep 

 breeding. For instance, a shapely twist is usually the companion 

 of a well-sprung rib and well-developed crops. This rule, how- 

 ever, has its exceptions, for many a heavy-fronted animal lacks 

 in hindquarters and particularly in the twists; but the animal with 

 heavy twists has almost invariably heavy, well-developed front- 

 quarters. It would seem, judging from our wild animals, that 

 nature has intended that the male should be disproportionally 

 (according to man's ideas) or proportionately (according to na- 

 ture's ideas) developed in its front-quarters in contradistinction 

 to the general smoothness of the female. Anyone versed in the 

 breeding of our domestic friends must be aware how much easier 

 it is to breed a male animal that is heavier in front than in its 

 hind-quarters than it is to breed one even and smooth all over, 

 which is one of the greatest points to attain in the breeding of 

 our domestic animals. 



THE FLEECE. 



With wool selling at present prices it is very clear that it is 

 most important to give attention to both the quality and quantity 

 of wool our sheep shear ; therefore, the new beginner should see that 

 his selections are what they should be in this respect. Texture, 

 staple and density are the main features to study. A kempy- 

 fleeced animal should be avoided, as kemp is one of the most easily 

 transmitted of evils. Kemp looks not unlike dog's hair and can 

 be easily distinguished from wool as it generally exceeds the fleece 

 in length. It appears most prominently on the neck or "breaches" 

 the hind leg. Kemp is more natural to certain breeds than to 

 others. Sheep with discolored fleeces, such as black or grey spots, 

 should be discarded, as such defects are easily transmitted. Al- 

 though care and selection in breeding has done much toward elimi- 

 nating these defects, still in the best of flocks of certain breeds 

 they occasionally make their appearance. Naturally in the case 

 of grade or native flocks these defects are much more common 

 than in purebred flocks. To show how easy these undesirable 

 characteristics are transmitted and carried from generation to 

 generation it may be mentioned that even in the showring they 

 are sometimes in evidence and would be more so but for the fact 



