408 JUDGING FARM ANIMALS 



Each animal is given a number or letter, and the judge 

 gives to the features of each kind compared, ratings in one, 

 two, three order. For example, in comparing condition, he 

 might give C first place, A second, D third and B fourth. 

 In this manner he would systematically make certain com- 

 parisons. He would not necessarily give first place to the 

 animal having the most first placings, unless the more vital 

 factors, such as condition, quality, back, and leg of mutton, 

 would justify such a placing. This method of comparison 

 is extremely interesting, and while not usually suited to the 

 work of the professional judge, whose time is limited, it is 

 especially instructive in the case of students. 



Reasons for making comparative placings of mutton 

 sheep. Professional judges give reasons or not as they de- 

 sire, in connection with their placings. Students, however, 

 judging under instructors, are expected to give logical rea- 

 sons for their placings. If one is to give written reasons, 

 usually fifteen or twenty minutes is allowed for this pur- 

 pose, while only about three minutes are allowed for oral 

 reasons. In either case the student is to state briefly in a 

 systematic way the main reasons influencing his decision. 

 As illustrative of student judging, the following is given as 

 an example of written reasons by a well-known animal hus- 

 bandry teacher, who submitted them in class work to the 

 author when competing for a place on the students' Inter- 

 national Live Stock Judging Team. Four Southdown ewes 

 were judged, and this paper furnishes a good example of 

 reasons in written form. 



' ' Reasons for placing No. 797 first are that she is the low- 

 est set, broadest, deepest and blockiest ewe in the ring. She 

 is especially commendable for her superior breadth through- 

 out and also for her depth of twist and plump leg of mutton. 

 Her loin is the widest in the lot. She nearest approaches 

 the meaty type desired in the Southdown, and with it all 

 she possesses as much quality as any in the ring. Her flesh 

 is the most uniformly carried of any of the four. She is 

 open to some criticism for a slight lack of strength of back 



