15 



length. No particular breeding can be pointed out as being superior 

 to all others, but by way of illustration it may be stated that the 

 cross between a range Merino ewe and a long wooled ram of a 

 recognized mutton breed produces the fleece that fills the require- 

 ments. 



Occasionally late lambs of desirable quality with good fleeces 

 and fat enough but too light for the meat trade can be secured at 

 feeder prices. They weigh about fifty pounds. They are highly 

 satisfactory for keeping thru a long period as they are very thrifty 

 and they gain rapidly in weight. 



Lambs that are pronouncedly lacking in general quality do not 

 fit in well with any method of feeding. These are Iambs that are 

 heavy in pelt and as a rule do not make satisfactory gains, and when 

 finished they are always discriminated against by buyers for the 

 meat trade. Another kind that does not meet with favor is the 

 very thin lamb. As stated above, such a lamb is unthrifty when 

 found in a band which, as a whole, is in desirable feeder condition. 

 If the whole band is in very low condition it is suspected that they 

 have been badly handled and more or less stunted. Hence they, too, 

 are regarded as unthrifty. They do not start as well on feed as 

 fleshier lambs and the percentage of loss is likely to be great. Oc- 

 casionally such lambs, when bought at low figures, are a profitable 

 investment. Experienced feeders with ample shelter and an abund- 

 ance of feed may handle them with profit, but not unless they are 

 purchased at a low price. 



YEARUNGS AND WETHERS 



Feeder yearlings and wethers are usually in higher condition 

 than feeder lambs. Gains on yearlings and wethers usually cost 

 more than they sell for, and for this reason the purchaser of feed- 

 ers buys with the hope of increasing the value of the weight pur- 

 chased thru the process of finishing. He is anxious, therefore, to 

 buy at a low price animals of desirable quality and weight and in 

 good condition. Often wethers are thrifty but in thin condition. 

 These, if purchased right, may be profitably grazed or stocked in 

 the early fall and winter and fed later. The same attention to uni- 

 formity in thrift, quality, condition and weight should be given to 

 the selection of feeder yearlings and wethers as is given to the se- 

 lection of lambs. 



FEEDER EWES 



Desirable feeder ewes should be in fairly good condition. Old 

 ewes six and seven years of age form the bulk of the offerings, and 

 the intending purchaser should examine their mouths in making 



