FLEECE CHARACTERISTICS . 377 



normal field conditions, with the sheep blocked out in a 

 square, compact form, and the same sheep with the wool 

 removed. This will bring out all of the possible points of 

 deception. It will be noted that a very unsymmetrical 

 sheep from the structural standpoint may be made to appear 

 as having an ideal mutton form. Ordinarily the defects 

 covered by blocking and trimming may be located on almost 

 any part of the body exclusive of the legs or other portions 

 where wool does not normally grow. 



Fleece Characteristics.' — The intrinsic value of an animal 

 is determined by the sum total of all of its marketable 

 products. The sheep, unlike most other animals, has an 

 additional commodity in the wool, which not only serves as 

 a protection to the animal, but which enters into commerce 

 as an important product. The value of the wool, therefore, 

 should be carefully determined in connection with the 

 mutton-producing qualities. Although the fleece from an 

 individual animal is not normally a large consideration, 

 measured in dollars and cents, it is oftentimes, under certain 

 conditions, sufficient to cover the annual cost of maintenance. 

 While extreme wool and mutton-producing qualities are 

 antagonistic, it is important to produce as good a quality of 

 wool as consistent with the production of mutton of the 

 best quality. 



There are three commonly accepted types of wool, measured 

 in terms of breed production. These are namely : fine wools, 

 medium wools, and long wools. In judging fleece character- 

 istics it is necessary to take into consideration the type of 

 sheep on which the wool is produced. The fine-wool breeds 

 produce wool comparatively short and fine in quality. The 

 crimp is close and the yolk excessive. The medium-wool 

 breeds produce wool of average length and fineness. On 

 the best individuals of these breeds the wool is unusually 

 fine and uniform in distribution. The long-wool breeds 

 produce a long and rather open fleece, lacking in crimp, 

 and the excessive amount of yolk, as found in the fine-wool 

 breeds. In order to judge these characteristics understand- 



' Special reference, The Wool Grower and The Wool Trade, by F. R. 

 Marshall and L. L. Heller, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



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