I9 o8.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF SHEEP. 611 



economical figures. The selection of such lambs is based upon 

 form, quality, constitution, condition and weight. 



FORM. In general the form should be deep, broad, well knit, 

 of medium length and low set. This conformation indicates early 

 maturity, good constitution, capacity for growth, and a likelihood 

 of finishing into an attractive carcass with a relatively high per- 

 centage of valuable cuts. Very leggy, gaunt, narrow, loosely made 

 lambs usually fatten slowly and lack the ability to make economical 

 gains or to reach choice mutton finish. The choice feeder should 

 be of medium length rather than very long or short. Great length 

 is usually attended with general ungainliness and a tendency to 

 finish slowly. Since lambs of this conformation are usually very 

 long in the coupling, they, when at their best, lack the compact- 

 ness desired in the choice mutton lamb. On the other hand, the 

 unusually short lamb, as a rule, behaves on feed as though it had 

 been stunted. It is often fastidious in its feeding; it frequently 

 presents a paunchy appearance and has the misfortune to improve 

 but slightly during the feeding period. It has been said that choice 

 feeders should be low set but only a comparatively small number of 

 strong, western lambs have what we would term "short legs." In 

 making selections and keeping the other requisites in mind, the less 

 leggy type should be preferred. 



QUALITY. Quality is a very important consideration in the 

 selection of feeder lambs, and it is that characteristic which is man- 

 ifested by a medium, sized, fine, clean cut head ; medium sized, and 

 moderately thin ears ; the hair on the face and legs, fine and silky ; 

 bone that is fine, and without coarseness at the joints; skin, thin 

 and without folds or wrinkles. A smooth skin without folds or 

 wrinkles and carrying wool of moderate weight is the most im- 

 portant requirement of desirable quality in feeder lambs. Lambs 

 with heavy pelts are discriminated against because they do not, as 

 a rule, gain as rapidly as lambs with smooth skin? and they never 

 command top prices when returned to the market fat, because, as 

 was stated in the early pages of this bulletin, the excessive weight 

 of pelt materially reduces the percentage of the dressed weight. 



CONSTITUTION. The conformation which indicates a strong 

 constitution was described above under form. A wide, deep chest, 

 fullness in the heart-girth, depth and breadth of body indicate suf- 

 ficient space for well developed vital organs, or strong constitution. 

 Another important point, which if not a part of constitution is 

 closely akin to it, is thrift. The intelligent buyer of choice feeders 

 rejects all lambs that appear in the least unthrifty, such as lame 

 ones and those inclined to lag behind when the band is moving. 



