THE JUDGING OF SHEEP 357 



pull the sheep stiiiarely in front of your legs and clowc to the 

 body. If it is desired to move the sheep forward, it will be 

 necessary onlj^ to press gently forward with the right hand. 

 If that effort is not enough, then place the finger tips at and 

 beneath the root of the tail, and the sheep will move forward 

 without trouble. Sheep that are accustomed to handling 

 may, as a rule, easily be held by placing the left hand under 

 the lower jaw and holding the back of the head or neck with 

 the right hand. In judging- work at a school, a small rope 

 halter will be found useful in simplifying the matter of hold- 

 ing and the use of attendants. 



To examine the under side of the sheep, it is desirable 

 sometimes to place the animal on its rump. To do so, one 

 should pass the left hand under the neck and grasp the right 

 forearm. Then reach forward and under the sheep with the 

 right hand and grasp the right hind leg at the hock; by a 

 slight pull of the right hand, and a push of the body against 

 the sheep, the animal will naturally swing down upon its 

 rump. When in this position, the sheep is held with the left 

 hand, with the sheep's back resting against the holder's 

 knees. This operation becomes easy with a little practice. 



How to study the sheep. During much of the year, 

 except for a short time after shearing, perhaps, the bodies of 

 sheep are covered with wool. This varies greatly in length, 

 but is frequently 33^ to 4 inches long. With this covering 

 of wool, it is impossible to judge the merits of the animal, 

 except with the assistance of the hands; for the fleece covers 

 defects that may be felt, but not so readily seen. Men who 

 exhibit sheep usually trim the wool, or block it out, as it 

 is termed, so as to make the animal look very symmetrical 

 and attractive. While one should survey the general appear- 

 ance of the sheep, as in the case of other animals, the use of 

 the hands is an added necessity. While examining a mut- 

 ton sheep, one should keep the fingers of each hand close 

 together, and then press them flat on the wool, not allowing 



