CHAPTEE XXXVII 

 MARKET CLASSES OF SHEEP 



The sheep feeder should have a comprehensive knowledge of 

 the classes of sheep sold on the open markets and of the require- 

 ments for the grades within these classes. On these markets all 

 sheep raised in the West are called western sheep ; those raised on the 

 farms in the Middle West, East, and South are called native sheep. 

 Kative sheep are not classed as feeders because they are so often 

 infested with parasites that they are disappointing in the feed lot 

 after they have undergone the hardships incident to passing through 

 a market. 



The classes and subclasses of sheep are as follows : 



Classes Subclasses 



f Lambs 

 Yearlings 



Mutton sheep ( native and western slieep ) -j Wethers 



I Ewes 



[ Buclcs and stags 



Lambs 



Yearlings 



Wethers 



Feeder sheep (western sheep) 



Ewes 



Breeding sheep {native and western sheep) I ^^^^ 



I Bucks 



The three main classes are determined by the use to which the 

 sheep are put. The mutton class includes all sheep sold for slaugh- 

 ter ; the feeder class, all sheep sold for the purpose of being sent to 

 farms and feeding establishments to be fattened ; and the breeding 

 class, all sheep sent out to be used as breeding stock. 



Either the age or sex, or both, determine the subclass to which 

 the animal belongs. Lambs include all sheep under twelve or four- 

 teen months of age except those that are so forward in their develop- 

 ment of body as to resemble mature sheep. If any of the temporary 

 340 



