534 



SHEEP 



crops and high front flanks indicate lack of constitution and poor 

 feeding character. Fullness of flank is of vital importance. 



'W^Q front legs should be wide apart and heavily muscled of arm, 

 the shank bones fine and short, the joints and pasterns strong. 

 The entire leg viewed from front or side must show good form 



Fig. 240. A fine type of mutton sheep, the grand-champion wether, a Shropshire, 



at the International Live-Stock Exposition, 1917. Exhibited by Jess Andrew, West 



Point, Indiana. From photograph by Hildebrand, by courtesy of Mr. Andrew 



and strength, the knees being well apart and the feet properly 

 pointing straight ahead. Weak pasterns frequently occur with 

 mutton sheep, a feature to be avoided in selecting breeding rams. 



The back and loin contain the valuable cuts, so that width and 

 thickness are highly essential at all times. Breadth and levelness 

 of back are emphasized, with some closeness of coupling. 



The body, to have ample capacity, requires a strong arch and 

 depth of rib, thus giving depth and thickness, invariably associated 



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