254 



Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



grades of yearlings are prime, choice, good, medium, and common. 

 These closely resemble the similar grades of lambs which have been 

 described. 



Wethers. — This class is composed of mature wethers. The supply 

 of these is very limited and is diminishing because their production is 

 not economical or profitable. Practically all of them are westerns. 

 Their carcasses supply hotel, club, restaurant, and other trade where 

 the heavier cuts may be used to advantage. Extremely fat, "gobby" 

 wethers and big, plain wethers are discriminated against. The grades 

 are prime, choice, good, medium, and common, chiefly according to 

 form, quality, and condition. 



Ewes. — Old ewes discarded as breeders and surplus breeding ewes 

 chiefly compose this class and wide differences are noticeable in 



Fig. 89. — Prime native wethers. 



the age, condition, and weight of offerings. The supply of ewes for 

 killing purposes is much larger than that of wethers, and most mutton 

 carcasses are ewe carcasses. As a rule, ewes dress a lower percentage 

 and yield proportionately less lean meat than wethers, and hence bring 

 a lower price. The higher grades of ewes supply hotel and restaurant 

 trade, while the lower grades supply the demand for cheap mutton in 

 cities and elsewhere. The grades of ewes are choice, good, medium, 

 and common, according to form, quality, and condition. The higher 

 grades are relatively scarce. Advanced age and low condition feature 

 the common grade. 



Bucks and stags. — The supply of these is limited and they are of 

 no special importance to the producer of mutton. The grades are 

 good, medium, and common. 



