Formation of a Flock 141 



Judging sheep. — In the mutton breeds, the same 

 points are relied upon, but it is also necessary, unless 

 the sheep is newly shorn, to use the hands to find out 

 just how the animal is built. 



In judging sheep, it is advisable to adopt a certain 

 course of procedure, so that nothing may be missed, 

 and each motion be made to disclose something in 

 regard to the merit or demerit of a sheep. As in 

 judging all other classes of stock, a system of exami- 

 nation should be adopted and very closely adhered to. 

 The best course to follow, perhaps, is to begin at the 

 head. With finger and thumb remove the lower 

 lip so that the teeth may be seen. Then, with the hand 

 under the jaw, look carefully over the head, seeing 

 that the eyes are all right, the head of good shape, 

 no appearance of horns in those breeds that are 

 hornless, while in those with horns note that the latter 

 spring clear from the head. Then pass to the neck, 

 feeling with the hands the course of the neck, and 

 in that way determine the length of it, the thickness 

 of it, and the way it swells to meet the shoulder 

 at the shoulder vein. (See Fig. 29.) Then pass down 

 to the brisket, putting one hand on the floor of the 

 chest and the other at the top of the shoulder, and 

 in this way form an idea as to depth of the sheep 

 through these parts. (See Fig. 30.) Then pass to 

 the shoulder, noticing how it is covered with flesh, 

 and up to the top, also taking the girth or the spring 

 of the ribs of the sheep. (See Fig. 31.) From the 



