Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



255 



Feeder Sheep 



The chief distinction between mutton sheep and feeder sheep is 

 the degree of condition. Other differences are noticeable, however, 

 for sheep and lambs are not in demand as feeders unless they are at 

 least reasonably good in form, quality, and constitution. After packers 

 have selected those animals which are in desirable condition for killing 

 purposes, there remains a large number which are more or less lacking 

 in finish. From among these, feeder buyers select those which are of 

 desirable form, quality, constitution, and weight for feeding purposes. 

 Frequently packer buyers compete with feeder buyers for such sheep, 

 and the high bidder gets them. If there are more of them than feeder 



Fig. 90. -Common western wethers. 



buyers can use, the packer must take a number of them, but if the 

 supply is rather limited the feeder buyer usually gets most of them. 

 In addition to the foregoing, the sheep market receives inferior animals 

 of all ages, sexes, and weights, which are too thin to be good killers and 

 which cannot be sold as feeders because they are coarse and rough, old, 

 unthrifty, lacking vitality, inferior in form, lame, uncastrated, un- 

 docked, burry, black, open fleeced, badly wrinkled or otherwise un- 

 desirable. These sell for slaughter and fill the lower grades in their 

 respective classes. 



The supply of feeders and the demand for them is greatest during 

 September, October, and November, when large shipments are received 

 from the West. As previously explained, practically all sheep sold 

 from the markets as feeders are those grown on western ranges. During 



