620 BULLETIN No. 129. [November, 



they are taken more readily than the thinner ones. 



The choice feeder wether should be of a light, handy weight, 

 which ranges from 80 to 90 pounds. See plate 33. 



GOOD FEEDER WETHERS 



Good wethers should be uniform in weight and condition and 

 not open to serious criticism in conformation and quality. As in 

 the choice grade, the extremely thin wether is not sought after. 

 Wethers of this grade are usually inferior to those of the choice 

 grade in quality or condition. See plate 34. 



MEDIUM FEEDER WETHERS 



Wethers of this grade are usually criticized for their lack of 

 quality and condition. If wethers are in thin condition it is nec- 

 essary to carry them through a long feeding period and for this 

 reason they are less desirable than if their condition were such that 

 they could be fattened in a short period. More improvement may 

 be made during the feeding period by wethers of this grade than 

 those of any other and when fat they not infrequently grade as 

 choice. 



Medium feeder wethers are likely to be large of frame and al- 

 though not heavy at the time of purchase because of their thin 

 condition, they are heavy wethers when marketed as mutton. See 

 plate 35. 



COMMON FEEDER WETHERS 



Extremely coarse wethers with heavy pelts, stags, the result of 

 castrating mature rams, and very old wethers, are included in this 

 grade. The offerings in common feeder wethers are small, and 

 what few there are do not sell readily. It is not uncommon to see 

 wethers of this grade held over several days in the pens before 

 meeting with a sale. They are unpromising from the feeder's 

 standpoint because they are likely to make gains slowly and at 

 high cost and when finished their lack in quality places them con- 

 siderably below the top of the market. See plate 36. 



