MARKET CLASSES AND GRADES OF LIVESTOCK 25 
MARKET CLASSIFICATIONS FOR SHEEP AND LAMBS 
Sheep are ovine animals of all ages. They are divided, however, into 
two major groups based largely on age, namely, Lambs and Sheep. 
Lambs include those that are approximately 1 year of age and younger 
and Sheep include those that are approximately 1 year old and over. 
In general, the young animal that lias not acquired its first pair of 
permanent teeth is called a Lamb whereas the older animal that has 
acquired the first pair of permanent teeth is called a Sheep. The first 
pair of permanent teeth appears when the animal is about 1 year old. 
The second pair appears when it is about 2 years old. During the 
period between the appearances of the first and second pairs of perma- 
nent teeth the animal is commonly called a Yearling Sheep. Older 
sheep often are called Mature Sheep or, as in the case of Breeder 
Ewes, are designated by their approximate ages. 
In a market classification for Sheep and Lambs provision is made 
for dividing each of these major groups into smaller market groups. 
according to the purposes for which they are to be used or are most 
suitable, and according to classes, ages, weights, and grades. 
USES 
Sheep and Lambs are divided into four market groups based on the 
uses to be made of them or the purposes for which they are most suit- 
able. They are : Slaughter, Feeder, Shearer, and Breeder. 
Slaughter Sheep and Lambs are those intended for immediate 
slaughter. 
Feeder Sheep and Lambs are those intended for further growth 
or fattening or are more suitable for this purpose than for any other. 
Shearer Sheep and Lambs are those intended for shearing before 
use as Slaughter animals. 
Breeder Sheep and Lambs are those intended for reproduction 
purposes. 
Standard market classes and grades have been prepared only for 
Slaughter and Feeder Sheep and Lambs. 
CLASSES 
The market classes for Sheep and Lambs are: Ewes. Wethers, and 
Rams. 
A Ewe is a female sheep or lamb. 
A Wether is a male sheep or lamb that was castrated when only 
a few weeks old or before it had developed some of the charactertst lcs 
of a mature Ram. 
A Ram is an uncastrated male sheep or lamb. It is sometimes 
called a Buck. 
AGES AND WEIGHTS 
The age groups for lambs are indicated in a general way by the 
terms Hothouse Lambs, Spring Lambs, and Lambs. For sheep, they 
are indicated by the terms Yearling Sheep, 2- Year-Old Sheep, and 
Mature Sheep. Breeder Ewes are grouped as Lambs, Yearlings, 
2- and 3- Year-Olds, 4- Year-Olds, and Older. 
