CHAPTEE VIII 

 JUDGING SHEEP 



Preparation for Judging. — Eegardless of whether judges are 

 born or made, skill in judging sheep is -attained at the expense of 

 much practice. The men who judge best are nearly always at it, 

 not in the arena, of course, but wherever they see sheep. It is this 

 irresistible tendency constantly to compare and contrast animals 

 that builds up in the mind of the judge a rich store of experiences 

 which serve him well, and in fact come to his rescue when he is 

 making awards where competition is keen and close. These ex- 

 periences mold his standard and set it out in bold relief. Organized 

 class study, although of great help, is after all only one step toward 

 proficiency in judging. It is a step which many of the best judges 

 have never taken, and one which is not used to proper advantage 

 unless it is supplemented by extensive practice in field and fold 

 (Fig. 43). 



Examining the Sheep. — Capable judges, realizing the impor- 

 tance of careful examination, first look the sheep over from a dis- 

 tance and then go over it with their hands. It does not make any 

 difference which view of the animal is noted first so long as the 

 examination is thorough and systematic. The writer prefers to 

 begin with the front of the sheep, then observe its sides, .and lastly 

 its rear, for the reason that in handling he examines the rear first. 



Looking the Sheep Over. — Following this plan, there are cer- 

 tain points which should be noted from each view. 



(1) The front view gives the best opportunity to study the 

 make-up of the head, the width and depth of brisket, and the 

 length, shape and placing of the forelegs. Very close attention 

 should be given to the head because its quality is indicative of the 

 quality of the animal and in breed specimens it reveals a great 

 deal of what is known as breed type. The stamina or constitu- 

 tion of the animal is also indicated in the way certain features 

 of the head are developed. 



(2) Side. — In taking a side view, the size, style, and general 

 lines of the sheep attract attention first. Then comes an analysis 

 of the general impression thus gained which takes note of the 



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