256 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



the last few years, however, due to increased demand for feeders and 

 somewhat lessened receipts of westerns, some increase has been notice- 

 able in the number of native lambs accepted for feeding purposes. 

 The classes of feeder sheep are lambs, yearlings, wethers, and ewes. 



Feeder Iambs. — This is the most important and by far the most 

 numerous class of feeder sheep. The grades are fancy selected, choice, 

 good, medium, and common. 



Fancy selected feeder Iambs include a relatively small number of 

 high-class lambs that carry more condition and weight than the bulk 

 of feeder lambs and hence require only a short feeding period to finish 

 them into prime lambs. The range in weight is from 65 to 70 pounds. 

 They must show very good breeding, excellent form, high quality, 

 strong constitution, dense fleeces of clean wool, and marked uniformity 

 in type and size. 



Fig. 91. — Fancy selected feeder lambs. 



Choice feeder Iambs. — Most of the better lambs purchased for 

 feeding purposes are of the choice grade rather than fancy selected. 

 Under good management and with a longer feeding period they may be 

 finished into prime lambs. The points which determine the grade and 

 value of a feeder lamb are weight, breeding, form, quality, constitution, 

 condition, fleece, sex, and uniformity. 



1. Weight is of great importance because of the packer's prefer- 

 ence for handy-weight lambs. In selecting feeder lambs it is essential 

 to select weights which will permit of taking on a finish without exceed- 

 ing an 80 to 85-pound limit when the animals are returned to the 

 market. Therefore the weight selected will depend somewhat on the 

 condition of the lambs. If they are lacking in flesh to a marked degree, 

 lighter weights must be selected than in the case of feeder lambs carry- 



