JUDGING THE MUTTON TYPE OF SHEEP 395 



should come down as straight as possible on each side, and 

 if this is the case, then they will stand wide apart, and allow 

 ample chest room between. Long legs are decidedly objec- 

 tionable because they indicate unnecessary waste in killing. 

 Further, they frequently accompany poor constitution. 

 Short legs furnish a minimum waste, and are characteristic 

 features associated with strong constitution. The bone of the 

 leg should be fine and lack all roughness, giving evidence of 

 little waste at slaughter. Attention should be directed to 

 the feet, to see that the toes are well carried, and point 

 directly forward. From the butcher's point of view this is 

 not so important, but if we consider the shipper or producer, 

 correct conformation with the ability to walk well, insuring 

 delivery to market in good shape, is of unquestionable im- 

 portance. While only one point is given to the legs in the 

 scale of points, if they are of distinctly defective carriage, 

 they should be scored off from 25 to 50 per cent according 

 to conditions. 



Fig. 219. "Long legs are decidedly objectionable because they indicate 

 unnecessary waste in killing. Further, they frequently accompany poor 

 constitution." 



