10 BULLETIN 573, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
that is being reached by grading up through the use of well-selected, 
pure-bred rams of a chosen breed. With the exception of the case 
of a few men whose sheep production is carried on on the range as 
well as on the farms, it is believed that the continuous production of 
crossbreds is inadvisable. 
Selection of ewes.—Summer or early fall is the best time for selecting 
a flock. At this time the breeders are cutting down their flocks 
for the winter. From many of the range bands good ewes can be 
purchased at reasonable prices. In selecting, it is important that 
the desirable type be borne in mind. Essential points indicating 
good breeding are a feminine head; deep body with good spring of 
ribs; a wide, level back, carrying out well on the rump; a good 
fleece, covering the body uniformly; sound teeth; and good udders. 
Common mistakes made in bands otherwise well selected are the 
failure to determine the age by looking at the teeth and the over- 
looking of barren ewes. The age is easily determined by examining 
the front teeth. Lambs, up to the time of the first shearing, are 
easily distinguished, usually by general appearance; otherwise by 
their milk teeth. About the time of the first shearing, the middle 
pair of milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, which are prac- 
tically twice as broad as the milk teeth. Sheep with four permanent 
teeth are designated as 2-year-olds, those with six teeth as 3-year-olds, 
and a fullset of eight permanent teeth appears when the sheep 1s 4 years 
old. At varying ages, depending on the breed, care, and individu- 
ality of the mature sheep, the teeth become spread, and the sheep 
is called a ‘‘spread-mouth;”’ or a part of the teeth may be lost, and 
the sheep is called a ‘‘broken-mouth;”’ or all the teeth may be gone, 
in which case the sheep is called a ‘‘gummer.”’ Careful attention 
should be paid ‘to these points when ewes are being selected. 
Selection of the ram.—Although most of the farm flocks on the 
project are grades, the general custom is to breed to a registered 
ram. Examples of improvement and increased value brought about 
in range bands by the use of good pure-bred rams are so numerous 
and so obvious that practically all the farmers breed their ewes to 
pure-bred males. Generally speaking, grade rams are used only 
when it is impossible to secure a satisfactory pure bred. The good 
results of using pure-bred rams on the farms are becoming very 
marked. As the ram is ‘‘more than half the flock,’ extra care 
should be used in his selection. Perhaps the most common mis- 
take made in this connection is to overlook the fact that a pedi- 
gree in itself is not an absolute guarantee of individual excellence. 
Purity of breeding, as indicated by the pedigree, is important, and 
no ram without it should be selected; but in addition to good breed- 
ing, the ram should have the desirable individual characteristics of 
his breed. He should be masculine, healthy, and vigorous. He 
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