416 



JUDGING SHEEP 



WOOL TYPE. 



Wool sheep are produced primarily for the fleece. In 

 former years the variation in the mutton and wool type was 

 greater than it is at present. Economic conditions have 

 so changed that the breeders of strictly wool sheep are now 

 giving more attention to the form or mutton-producing 

 qualities. The fine-wool breeds were bred so carefully in 

 wool-producing qualities that the weight of the fleece not 



FIG. 181. Wool type of sheep. 



only formed an unusually large proportion of the total 

 weight, but the constitutional development was thereby 

 injured. The increase in the price of beef and other meat- 

 producing animals has had a beneficial effect on the produc- 

 tion of more and better sheep. It is also significant that the 

 fluctuation in the price of fine wool, due to several conditions, 

 has caused the fine-wool breeders to place more stress on 

 mutton-producing qualities. 



Conformation. Compared with the mutton sheep, the 

 wool type is smaller, longer in the leg, less symmetrical, 



