

i(?o8.] MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF SHEEP. 615 



COMMON OR INFERIOR FEEDERS 



The lambs most common to this grade are little, light, late born, 

 weak lambs. They are known under several appellations, such as 

 "bums," "culls," "pewees" and "peanuts." Their weight may vary 

 anywhere from 25 to 45 pounds and because of their tender age, 

 light weight and weakened condition they require skillful care and 

 a long period of feeding upon nutritious feeds that will produce a 

 large amount of growth as well as fat. Hence the demand for 

 these lambs is limited because none but men of much experience in 

 lamb feeding and with proper equipment and feeds can successfully 

 handle them. Lambs of the above description are not discrim- 

 inated against because of their quality, but entirely because of their 

 lack in size, due either to retarded growth or late birth, or perhaps 

 both, and their lack of thriftiness. They frequently sell as prime 

 lambs after being carefully fed for five or six months. The ex- 

 tremely coarse, heavy pelted lambs lacking uniformity both in 

 weight and conformation are also placed in this grade. 



The little lambs that form the bulk of the common grade are 

 said to appear in fewer numbers upon the markets each succeeding 

 year, due, perhaps, to improved management of the range flocks, 

 and a realization on the part of the range owners that it does not 

 pay to place them upon the market except under forced circum- 

 stances. It would seem, then, that it will not be many years be- 

 fore the common grade of feeders will be confined chiefly to very 

 coarse, thin and unthrifty lambs. See plate 29. 



YEARLING FEEDERS 



This class is made up exclusively from yearling wethers. As 

 previously stated mutton yearlings are substituted for lamb and if 

 they fail to make a desirable substitute they are not wanted, hence 

 quality and weight are of great importance in this class. In re- 

 cent years the number of yearling feeders appearing on the markets 

 has been so few that many orders for them could not be filled, and 

 they do not figure prominently in the feeder trade. 



The offerings of yearling feeders are graded as follows: 

 CHOICE, GOOD, COMMON. 



CHOICE YEARLING FEEDERS 



To grade as choice, yearling feeders must be smooth and sym- 

 metrical in outline, fairly low set and compact, fine in quality and 

 light in weight. They should weigh 70 pounds or less as the most 



