CHAPTER XVIII 



Market Classes and Grades of Sheep 



Three general classes of sheep are recognized at the large live- 

 stock markets. Each of these general classes is divided into two or 

 more classes, and most of the classes are in turn divided into grades. 

 The three general classes and their requirements are briefly as follows: 



1. Mutton sheep — including all lambs, yearlings, wethers, ewes, 

 bucks, and stags sold for slaughter. 



2. Feeder sheep — including all lambs, yearlings, wethers, and 

 ewes sold for feeding purposes. 



3. Breeding sheep — including ewes and bucks sold for breeding 

 purposes. 



The grades. ^ — The sheep within a class are graded according to 

 their relative value. The grades are (1) prime, or fancy selected, (2) 

 choice, (3) good, (4) medium, and (5) common. The term "fair" 

 means the same as "medium," and is frequently substituted for it. 

 "Inferior," "poor," and "culls" are terms sometimes substituted for 

 "common." In some classes there is no grade better than choice, and 

 in other classes there are no grades better than good. As the term 

 "prime" indicates a high degree of condition or finish, the best grade 

 of feeder lambs and breeding ewes is termed "fancy selected." 



Native and western sheep. — Before describing the market classes 

 and grades, some of the general descriptive terms used in the sheep 

 market need explanation. As applied to market sheep, these general 

 terms have little direct bearing on the market classification, but they 

 serve to indicate, in a more or less general manner, where the sheep 

 were raised, the nature of their breeding, and how they were fed. 



"Native sheep" are those produced in the small farm flocks of the 

 Central West, East, and South. "Western sheep" are those produced 

 in the large range flocks of the West. Western sheep are very largely 

 of Merino breeding, whereas natives have mostly a mutton ancestry. 

 Western sheep are usually white faced and more or less wrinkled, 

 particularly below the neck; native sheep are mostly brown faced and 

 are usually free from wrinkles. Range sheep are more uniform in 

 appearance than natives and are nearly always docked and castrated, 

 while many native sheep and lambs come to market undocked and 

 uncastrated. In the West, sheep are produced on pasture and hay 



For definitions of market class and grade, see page 119. 

 244 



