CHOOSING AND JUDGING SHEEP 373 



case among many of the mutton breeds. In considering the 



quahty, the best method is to open the fleece along the side 



just back of the shoulder and 



in the region of the thigh. 



With the hands placed in a 



flat position, open the wool just 



back of the shoulder (Fig. 121). 



It is in this region that the 



finest and soundest wool of the 



fleece is found. With the 



hands in like position, open 



the wool along the thigh (Fig. 



122). In this region the poor- Fiq. 122. — Examining the Fleece 



est and coarsest wool of the ^°^ ™e Coahsest of the Wool. 

 entire fleece is to be found. 



Quantity of fleece. — The chief factors to be considered in 

 determining the quantity of fleece are the density and length, 

 and the evenness of both over all parts of the sheep's body. 



By density is meant the closeness of the fibers or the number 

 of fibers that grow on a square inch. As a rule the greater the 

 number, the finer the fibers will be; hence the fleece will not 

 only be heavier, but more valuable as well. A dense fleece is 

 desired, as it affords the animal more protection than one that 

 is loose and open; hence sheep with dense fleeces suffer less 

 from catarrhal and other diseases. A dense, oilj^ fleece is im- 

 pervious to rain, snow, and wind, as well as dirt, dust, and 

 pieces of hay. On the other hand, the loose open fleece becomes 

 saturated with water on exposure, the sheep catch cold, suffer 

 from catarrh, running at the nose, scouring, and various other 

 diseases, and the fleece becomes loaded with dust, dirt, and 

 chaff. 



The length of the fleece is one of the important features in 

 considering the quantity. The length is a breed characteristic, 

 and the only suggestion that can be made is that it should be 



