128 Western Lave-stock Management 
While the rams may be of any breed, the ewes must 
always carry some Merino blood in order that they may 
have the hardiness and flocking qualities necessary for 
range use. One quarter Merino ewes give fair satis- 
faction but the half blood is most popular and brings the 
highest price. The ewe, like the ram, must have a strong 
constitution, strong back, and good feet and straight 
legs with plenty of bone. She should be at least a year- 
ling and not over a six-year old and have a sound mouth. 
To breed ewes younger than one year tends to diminish 
their size, while ewes older than six too often have broken 
mouths. Ewes’ mouths begin to break at about six 
years and sometimes before. It is better to fatten them 
and sell for mutton just before they break. All ewes 
that have proven to be non-breeders or poor mothers 
should be taken out before breeding begins, since they 
are worth more as mutton than as breeding stock. It 
is customary for the range-men to go over their flocks 
every fall and cut out all ewes that are no longer fit for 
breeding purposes. If taken before their teeth are gone, 
they can be fattened into good mutton, but if their teeth 
are broken, they will not fatten and must be sold as “cull 
ewes”’ for whatever they will bring. Some men mark at 
lambing time all the ewes that are poor mothers or which 
do not bring lambs. By fall they will be fat and can be 
sold for mutton. A popular way of marking such ewes 
is to cut off the end of the ear. 
DETERMINING AGE 
The age of sheep is determined by the order of ap- 
pearance of the permanent incisor teeth. The sheep has 
eight permanent incisors which supplant the milk teeth 
