SHEEP RAISING. !."> 



Selection of Ram. 



The ram should be selected with the greatest care. The nearer his 

 individuality is to the recognized standard in type and breed, the more 

 satisfactorily will he overcome any variation in the ewes. This is very 

 important, either with pure-bred females or with the grade flock. 



The ram should be selected from a flock of high standard. Conform- 

 ity to breed type is always important. In the individual, the mascu- 

 linity, style, vigor, form, quality and wooling should all receive atten- 

 tion. Masculinity should always be evident in a sire, yet coarseness of 

 quality and absence of breeding should not be mistaken for this. The 

 ram should be bold, stylish and vigorous throughout. Style is indi- 

 cated by the bold carriage of head, and spright, vigorous movements of 

 the animal. A dull, sleepy animal should never be considered for the 

 head of a flock. Such would lead generally to weakness in the lambs. 

 Vigor is shown in the bright eye, the robust frame, the strong full head, 

 the full deep chest and capacious barrel. Good digestive powers such 

 as are indicated here bespeak a rather long period of usefulness. 



The form should be square, the ribs well sprung, the body deep, hav- 

 ing width and length in proportion. Quality or fineness of structure is 

 a very important factor in considering the purchase of a sire. It is 

 probable that no other point is so hard to explain, yet it is easily seen 

 by the experienced eye. The lines of the animal should be clear cut 

 throughout, the skin clean, pink in color, and the wool bright and 

 lustrous. The plain headed ram with coarse features indicates absence 

 of quality and should be avoided as he is sure to transmit the same 

 characteristics to the offspring. 



Selection of Ewes. 



The ewes should be selected from a utility standpoint. The show 

 animal which presents the pleasing appearance in the ring will not 

 always do well under field conditions, especially in this State. This 

 type of animal because of the pampered condition will not make the 

 most useful breeder. Ewes which have been reared under natural farm 

 conditions will always be more profitable. This does not mean, how- 

 ever, that the animal of pleasing lines should be disregarded entirely. 



The ewe should be strikingly feminine in appearance, yet a weak 

 undersized, over-refined animal should not be mistakenly selected for 

 one having this quality. The masculine appearing female should be 

 avoided. A roomy, capacious ewe should never be passed for one with 

 a tucked-in body, as she will seldom prove to be a satisfactory breeder. 

 A low-set ewe having a long, deep and full body with a good leg of 

 mutton, is the desirable type to breed from for the production of field 

 sheep, as a goodly percentage of vigorous lambs is the main object in 

 view with the general farmer. 



It will depend somewhat on the breed selected as to the size and type 

 of the animal, however, in general the points mentioned will be im- 

 portant no matter what the breed may be. Unless the farmer is grow- 

 ing his own supply of females for replenishing the flock, he will likely 

 find opportunities to purchase grade ewes from farmers discontinuing 

 the business, or from some of the local or central stock markets. Every 

 precaution should be taken to get healthy ewes, well wooled, of good 



