434 



JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



as becoming a herd leader, with his sex plainly manifested. 

 A ram lacking in this respect should be severely discrimi- 

 nated against by the judge. Too much coarseness of head is 

 to be avoided, as suggesting a coarse type of sire. The 

 neck should be strong and muscular, with some thickness 

 on top. A grasp of the neck r where joining head and 

 shoulders, will reveal to the hand the sexual character 

 there. A strong neck should join bold and somewhat prom- 



Fig. 238. "The head should be comparatively large, short, strong and 

 wide over the nose, broad and full at the forehead." 



inent withers, these two indicating strength of constitution. 

 More prominence of withers is expected with rams of Me- 

 rino breeding than the mutton class, but even here this 

 character should be somewhat prominent, though when in 

 condition, smoothly covered. The testicles of the ram 

 should consist of a pair of glands uniformly developed and 

 strongly held within what is commonly known as the purse 

 or sac. It is important that the purse have some contrac- 

 tion of skin above the glands, and that it be well defined, 



