10 BULLETIN 573, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



that is being reached by grading up through the use of well-selected, 

 pure-bred rams of a chosen breed. With the exception of the case 

 of a few men whose sheep production is carried on on the range as 

 well as on the farms, it is believed that the continuous production of 

 crossbreds is inadvisable. 



Selection of ewes. — Summer or early fall is the best time for selecting 

 a flock. At this time the breeders are cutting down their flocks 

 for the winter. From many of the range bands good ewes can be 

 purchased at reasonable prices. In selecting, it is important that 

 the desirable type be borne in mind. Essential points indicating 

 good breeding are a feminine head; deep body with good spring of 

 ribs; a wide, level back, carrying out well on the rump; a good 

 fleece, covering the body uniformly; sound teeth; and good udders. 

 Common mistakes made in bands otherwise well selected are the 

 failure to determine the age by looking at trie teeth and the over- 

 looking of barren ewes. The age is easily determined by examining 

 the front teeth. Lambs, up to the time of the first shearing, are 

 easily distinguished, usually by general appearance; otherwise by 

 their milk teeth. About the time of the first shearing, the middle 

 pair of milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, which are prac- 

 tically twice as broad as the milk teeth. Sheep with four permanent 

 teeth are designated as 2-year-olds, those with six teeth as 3-year-olds, 

 and a full set of eight permanent teeth appears when the sheep is 4 years 

 old. At varying ages, depending on the breed, care, and individu- 

 ality of the mature sheep, the teeth become spread, and the sheep 

 is called a "spread-mouth;" or a part of the teeth may be lost, and 

 the sheep is called a "broken-mouth;" or all the teeth may be gone, 

 in which case the sheep is called a "gummer." Careful attention 

 should be paid to these points when ewes are being selected. 



Selection of the ram. — Although most of the farm flocks on the 

 project are grades, the general custom is to breed to a registered 

 ram. Examples of improvement and increased value brought about 

 in range bands by the use of good pure-bred rams are so numerous 

 and so obvious that practically all the farmers breed their ewes to 

 pure-bred males. Generally speaking, grade rams are used only 

 when it is impossible to secure a satisfactory pure bred. The good 

 results of using pure-bred rams on the farms are becoming very 

 marked. As the ram is "more than half the flock," extra care 

 should be used in his selection. Perhaps the most common mis- 

 take made in this connection is to overlook the fact that a pedi- 

 gree in itself is not an absolute guarantee of individual excellence. 

 Purity of breeding, as indicated by the pedigree, is important, and 

 no ram without it should be selected ; but in addition to good breed- 

 ing, the ram should have the desirable individual characteristics of 

 his breed. He should be masculine, healthy, and vigorous. He 



