1 82 MODERN SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



strong bone and muscle and a rotundity of frame not found with 

 a long stilty leg. 



The best ram is invariably the cheapest in the end, as it is 

 through its influence that quality is attained. As has been set 

 forth in a preceding chapter, size is desirable, but quality must 

 not be sacrificed at its expense. When purchasing a ram it is ad- 

 visable to see that ils testicles are perfect; not that a one-testicled 

 ram will not produce stock, and good stock at that, but because 

 when offered for sale the chances are it will not find a buyer, un- 

 less at only a tithe part of its former cost. A ram of a dull, sleepy 

 disposition is rarely the getter of such vigorous stock as the bold 

 aggressive type of ram. 



SELECTION OF THE EAM.. 



Fashion and the judgment of our best breeders decree that 

 the low-down, blocky type ram, he that weighs "heavier" than 

 we thought, "the little big sheep/' is the one which will be sought 

 these days of neat, prime joints of mutton. We must look for 

 breadth of loin, full brisket, deep body, masculine head and neck, 

 strong legs, strong full twist, deep flesh, thickness through .the 

 heart and thick, level, well let-down flanks, strong constitution, 

 and all these good things clothed in as fine, long and dense fleece 

 as possible. If coarseness is on either side let it be the ewe rather 

 than the ram. What we are looking for in our lambs are "chips 

 of the old block/' 



The novice when selecting a ram of the Downs or other horn- 

 less breeds of sheep should be very careful not to select one with 

 stubs miniature horns. Although rams having such defects are 

 almost invariably robust and masculine in character and in many 

 other ways desirable as. flock headers, still, stubs brand them as 

 being of inferior breeding. Such animals are generally unfavor- 

 ably noticed by showy ard judges and they should be in every in- 

 stance disqualified. 



Hollow backs, slack backs, or backs with the "fatal" drop 

 behind the shoulder, are very serious defects in rams and care 

 should always be taken to avoid animals of this conformation, as 

 like, so many other deformities these are faults that both rams 

 and ewes almost invariably transmit to their offspring. 



ON THE CARE OF THE RAM. 



There are three important factors to be considered in pro- 

 ducing a really good ram; viz., individuality, pedigree and good 

 feeding. While there are a few good rams ruined by over-feed- 

 ing, far more are ruined by being stunted through under-feeding. 

 A well-bred, well-fed ram is a charm, but an ill-fed one has no 

 place in this category. While some breeds may do well under ad- 

 verse conditions, there is no breed but what will respond to good 



