366 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



General appearance 



By carefully observing the general appearance of a sheep, 

 one can gain a fair knowledge of its desirability. Very often 

 the general appearance is not given much consideration, with 

 the result that many important characters go unobserved. 

 Before proceeding to a detailed examination one should care- 

 fully note the form ; this applies with equal force when selecting 

 for mutton or wool; if for mutton, the weight and condition 

 are important and the quality as well as the constitution are 

 of vital importance to both types and should receive much 

 careful attention. 



The fonn will vary according to the object sought. In the 

 fine-wool sheep the form may differ materially from that desired 

 for mutton. Class A, fine-wool, should have very heavy folds 

 over the entire body. Great depth of body is often more 

 sought than width, and the animals are often quite angular in 

 appearance. The form sought is that which indicates great 

 vitality and gives much surface for the production of wool. 

 Fine-wool sheep are therefore often high-standing ; deep of 

 chest, though narrow; long of body, though well supported; 

 light in the hind-quarters with skin fold varying according to 

 the class. 



On the other hand, the form of the mutton sheep should be 

 comparable to that of the beef animal. They should be low 

 and condensed in organization. The top and bottom lines 

 should be parallel, the shoulders and chest almost as wide as the 

 hips and rump. The body should be short and thick, as long 

 bodies lacking in depth and fullness are objectionable to the 

 sheep feeder and to the butcher. The region of valuable cuts 

 of mutton are the same as those of beef, that is, along the 

 back, loin, rump, and thigh ; hence these regions should be ex- 

 ceedingly strong and well developed. 



