200 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



Hampshire and Oxford Down sires have been the more 

 frequent prize winners, but in those of the United States 

 and Canada the honors have come more frequently to the 

 progeny of Shropshire and Southdown sires. 



The style of carcass wanted is influenced by form, 

 size, symmetry, bone and breed or grade. The cylindri- 

 cal and compact form, with much of width, depth and 

 roundness, and accompanied by firmness of back, is the 

 most suitable. An animal of medium size and much 

 symmetry, that is of correct correlation in the different 

 parts, is in every way to be preferred to one of more size 

 and less of symmetry. Bone even less than medium for 

 the breed or grade is preferred to bone that is larger. 

 While good specimens may be found in all the mutton 

 breeds and their grades, those that conform most nearly 

 to the Southdown type stand the best chance of winning. 



Quarters for the ewes and lambs To grow sheep or 

 lambs for exhibition does not call for quarters elaborate 

 or costly. In the quarters furnished it is only necessary 

 to make provision for shelter from drafts, from storms, 

 from excessive sunshine and for taking food and exer- 

 cise. Exposure to drafts in the sheds, hurtful to any 

 class of sheep, would so retard progress in show animals 

 as to defeat the object for which they are kept. Protec- 

 tion from storms includes protection from rain, sleet, 

 snow and strong or harsh winds. Hot sunshine will in- 

 jure show sheep more than others, since they carry more 

 fat and the greater the exposure to hot sunshine, the more 

 is the annoyance at the same time, as a rule, from flies. 

 The quarters for such sheep should be large enough to 

 prevent all crowding and the trough room should be 

 ample. It is also indispensable that the sheep shall be 

 given opportunity to exercise freely, or the flesh which 

 they carry will not be sufficiently firm. 



While the dams are nursing their young they are 

 simply kept in an apartment separate from other sheep. 

 This is necessary in order to furnish them with such foods 



