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FITTING YEARLING WETHERS AND LAMBS FOR EXHIBITION 21 



TRIMMING SHOW WETHERS 



The wethers each year were closely sheared to the skin during 

 .e first two weeks in May. The first trimming or so-called 

 blocking out" is done about July 15. Regularly about the 

 th of each of the months thereafter and also just prior to 

 taking them into the show ring the wethers received other trim- 

 ngs. Cool days are best for this work, as the" sheep do not 

 orry as much as they otherwise would and it is thus easier for 

 the shepherd. The feet are also trimmed every five or six weeks, 

 which helps keep the sheep standing squarely on their feet and 

 improves the general appearance of the feet and limbs. About 

 ovember 15, which is the last trimming prior to leaving for the 

 .ows, neat fitting blankets are pujb on the sheep, as shown in the 

 ustration on page 3, which keep the wool clean and prevent it 

 m becoming dented and disarranged. No artificial coloring 

 f fleeces has ever been practiced with the University wethers. 



FITTING WETHER LAMBS 



In earlier years, fat wethers, at least at some of the shows, 

 msisted of three classes, two-year-olds, yearlings, and lambs. 

 Nowadays the show is confined to yearlings and lambs only. 

 r hile the fitting of yearlings, as heretofore described, requires 

 msiderable time and work, it is, however, less difficult to 

 it them than it is to fit lambs successfully. This is due to 

 ie fact that a lamb is much more delicate than a yearling 

 id during the first season of its life makes a rapid growth and 

 loes not take on flesh as fast as does a well grown yearling. It 

 $, therefore, necessary that lambs which are to be shown must 

 ive proper forms and mutton qualities, which are the result of 

 mating ewes and rams possessing these characteristics. A ewe 

 must have not only a good mutton form, but superior milking 

 qualities as well, to insure her raising a good show lamb. 



Feeding University Lambs. In addition to the foregoing qual- 

 ifications, the University lambs are taught to eat grain and 

 clover or alfalfa hay just as soon as they will commence to eat, 

 which is at the age of about two weeks. The first feeding of the 

 lambs is done by means of a lamb-creep such as is shown in the 

 accompanying illustration. This gives the lambs an opportunity 



