MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF SHEEP. 629 



Soundness refers to the condition of the mouth and udder. A 

 broken mouth, which means missing teeth or teeth worn down 

 short, indicates advanced age and although ewes may otherwise 

 look desirable for breeding purposes they cannot grade as choice if 

 the teeth are not intact. It is necessary that the choice breeding 

 ewe have a sound udder and it is pronounced sound when it is soft 

 and pliable to the touch without abnormal development on either 

 side. Any ewe not having a sound udder should be rejected as a 

 breeder, but in the good and common grades some carelessness is 

 exhibited in this respect. 



BREEDING. The breeding most sought after is some one of the 

 Down breeds, chiefly because of the dark color upon the face and 

 legs. Early in the season of the breeding ewe trade, when 

 Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia are taking large numbers of 

 breeding ewes, color has a pronounced influence upon the desirabil- 

 ity of a ewe. Of two ewes, one with light markings and the other 

 with dark, but equal in all other respects, the one with dark mark- 

 ings is placed a grade higher than the other. It is also desirable 

 that the breeding of choice ewes be such that they have abundant 

 fleeces of medium wool, which means that the wool be of medium 

 fineness and length, dense and evenly covering all parts of the body. 

 Since they are to remain in the country for three seasons the qual- 

 ity and quantity of wool they produce is no inconsiderable item. 



CONSTITUTION AND FORM. The smooth, low set, symmetrical 

 ewe is preferred over the angular, upstanding ewe with uneven top 

 and lower lines. Since the breeding ewe is to produce and nourish 

 lambs it is essential that she be deep and wide in the chest, and 

 that she have a roomy middle, all of which indicates that she 

 has a strong constitution and well developed assimilative powers. 

 Choice ewes, unlike fancy selected, do not necessarily have to be 

 of stvlish carriage. From the standpoint of breed type, they are 

 often plain about the head, with rather long necks, and long in the 

 coupling to the extent that they could hardly be regarded as com- 

 pact. 



QUALITY. Choice breeding ewes should have smooth, rather 

 refined features and bone of medium size. Ewes of this grade are 

 used t produce choice and prime lambs for the spring and early 

 summer markets, and without a great deal of general quality, they 

 could scarcely fulfill their mission. It is well to distinguish be- 

 tween good general quality and over-refinement, as delicate, over- 

 refined ewes are without sufficient constitution to be profitable pro- 

 ducers. 



