GROWING AND FITTING SHEEP FOR EXHIBITION 267 



may be fed, but for fear of urinary troubles mangels 

 should not be fed to the males. It may be necessary to 

 restrict the feeding of roots somewhat at such a time, 

 lest the lambs should not take enough grain. 



The following grain ration will be found suitable 

 after the weaning season : Oats, bran, corn or peas and 

 oil cake in the proportions of 50, 15, 25 and 10 per cent, 

 but toward the end of the fitting period the proportion 

 of the corn fed should be increased, to add high finish to 

 the carcass. The grain should be fed in liberal supply, 

 but never to the extent of putting* the animals off feed or 

 of inducing that flabby condition of flesh that indicates 

 over-fitting. To feed just enough and not too much of 

 any one kind of food calls for the continual exercise of 

 judgment. 



Trimming the wool for the fairs The practice of 

 what is known as "trimming" the fleece of show sheep 

 when preparing them for exhibition is almost universal 

 with sheep of the middle wool breeds. It is practiced to 

 a less extent with sheep of the long wool breeds. Merinos 

 are not thus trimmed, whatsoever the type or breed may 

 be, but in some instances umber is rubbed sparingly on 

 the hips, legs and breast where the wool has become 

 frayed by rubbing. The smaller the breed that is 

 trimmed, the more severe, as a rule, is the trimming. By 

 trimming is meant the removal of the points of the wool 

 fibers of the fleece or of some part of it with the shears, 

 and in some instances the further removal in addition of 

 small portions of the length of the wool fiber on certain 

 parts of the body. As the wool fibers of Merinos are very 

 frequently glued together more or less at the outer ex- 

 tremities, such trimming of the fleece would not be possi- 

 ble. 



The object sought in trimming the fleece is to add 

 to the beautiful and symmetrical appearance of the animal 

 when it comes into the show ring. The sheep whose 

 fleece is carefully trimmed will not only appear more 



