practicums. Credit should be given for the work done at home when the 
student has demonstrated his proficiency. 
Handling sheep. 1 — As a preliminary to work in judging and general manage- 
ment of sheep, students should have practice in catching and moving sheep and 
in proper methods of handling, including the setting of a sheep upon its rump. 
Use of score card. 1 — As preparation also for work in judging, students should 
become familiar with the points of the animal and classification and weight 
given those points on a score card. It is well to begin with a study of the 
type most important in the district. In most sections the mutton type will 
receive first consideration. Later, in connection with a study of breeds, there 
may be time for a consideration of score cards for one or more of the breeds 
important in the district. As a rule, score cards ma^ be obtained from the 
State college of agriculture. 
Estimating age and weight of sheep 1 — In connection with the use of the 
score card, students should be given practice in estimating the age of sheep by 
the teeth and condition of the mouth. The score card will also call for an 
estimate of the weight of the animal. If possible, scales should be used as a 
check upon the estimates of the students. 
Chrading wool. 1 — In order to develop an appreciation of greater care in 
selecting and handling sheep with regard to developing and maintaining a 
better standard of wool, some attention should be given to a study of market 
grades and classes and to practical work in judging wool. Department Bul- 
letin 206, The Wool Grower and the Wool Trade, gives illustrations and de- 
scriptions of market grades and classes which may be made a basis for such a 
study. 
Comparative judging 1 — The exercises suggested should be considered, but 
preliminary to real judging ; i. e., judging by comparison. Abundant practice 
should be given in placing two or more sheep according to their merit with 
regard to different factors such as quality, constitution and market condition, 
and with regard to their general value. Practice should be given also in 
selecting sheep for breeding or feeding purposes from a flock and placing value 
on sheep selected for a definite purpose. 
Making equipment. — Inasmuch as sheep require a good deal of equipment 
which may be made on the farm, there is an excellent opportunity for the 
class which is considering sheep husbandry to cooperate with a class in farm 
mechanics in the practical woodworking exercises involved. Directions for 
the following exercises may be obtained from Farmers' Bulletin 810, Equip- 
ment for Farm Sheep Raising: 
(1) Plans of sheep barns and sheds. — Although there may be no opportunity 
for the majority of schools to undertake the construction of a sheep barn as a 
class project, wherever sheep husbandry is important students should be re- 
quired to adapt the plans given in Farmers' Bulletin 810 to meet the needs of 
their home farms. 
(2) Making feed racks and troughs. — From the variety of racks and troughs 
described in the bulletin a selection may be made of those fitting local needs 
and conditions. Such equipment may be made for a near-by farm as a class 
practicum or assigned to a student as an individual home practicum or to be 
made in connection with his project in raising sheep. 
(3) Lambing pens, creeps, fences, and hurdles. — Plans of a variety of fence 
panels with suggestions for making lambing and claiming pens, creeps, hurdles, 
and dog-proof fences are also given in the bulletin from which suitable equip- 
ment may be selected to meet the needs of class members or school patrons. 
The making of such equipment may also be suitable for the class as a whole 
or for individual students. 
(4) A dipping vat. — Some of the agricultural schools in the South have 
rendered a good service to the community and at the same time given good 
practice to their students by having them construct and operate a community 
dipping vat at the school. Although such a project may not be needed or 
feasible in all sections where sheep husbandry is carried on, in most sections 
it will be possible to let the students have some participation in the dipping 
and hand dressing of sheep for scab, lice, and ticks. Plans and specifications 
1 Suggestions with regard to handling sheep, use of the score card, estimating the age 
of sheep, grading wool, and comparative judging will be found in Department Bulletin 593, 
Judging Sheep as a Subject of Instruction in Secondary Schools. 
