THE COMMON GRADES 



347 



dealer in high-class mutton, and hence can not grade as prime" 

 (Figs. 205-208). 



The Common Grades. Animals in the common or cull grades 

 are nearly always very deficient in condition, as shown by lack of 

 covering over the back and ribs. Coarseness and overweight, as 

 frequently occurs with ram lambs, may cause them to be graded as 

 common lambs or culls. Wethers in medium to good condition, 

 but having heavy pelts and coarse features, may be graded as com- 

 mon. Advanced pregnancy in ewes as well as lack in condition or 

 quality may contribute toward placing them in the common grade 

 (Figs. 209-211). 



FIG. 206. Prime yearlings, tidy and not much larger than lambs. 



The intermediate grades, choice, good, and medium, indicate 

 various degrees of deficiency in condition, quality, form, and weight. 

 Animals markedly deficient in either condition or quality rarely 

 grade higher than medium, but bad form unless accompanied by 

 paunchiness, is not so much discriminated against. Weight has a 

 variable influence in determining the grade. When the supply of a 

 certain class of sheep is not great enough to satisfy the demand it 

 does not have much influence, but if there is a plentiful supply its 

 influence is easily noticeable. 



The desirable weights for the prime grades in the various sub- 

 classes of mutton sheep are lamibs, 55 to 85 pounds, according to 

 the time of year; yearlings, 70 to 90 pounds; wethers, 95 to 110 

 pounds, also 140 pounds; and ewes, 90 to 140 pounds. 



