South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-18
SELECTING FLOCK
FOR FARM IS ART
Whole Body Must be Looked
to to Bring About the
Best Results.
63Y T.. c. BEALL.
Instructor i'm Animal Husbandry,
Purdue University.

corn belt is primarily a meat ami
NAL The form of the ideal fat
sheep is so nearly like that of the
fat steer that the description Of the
two would be practically identical.
The difficulty commonly experienced
in judging sheep is the fact that it
is necessary 10 train the sense OF
touch as we'll as that of sight If ac-
curate judgment is to be passed. The
thick fleece is an effectual cover
from the eye Of the Judge as well is
from the rain and cold.
The practiced eye can tell some
thing as 10 the form and fat cover
of a full fleeced sheep without the
aid of touch. but no really good
Judge relies upon this alone The
eye can judge the refinement and
strength OF head. depth and width
of body. and strength and length OF
legs. The hand must be used 10 as
certain the thickness of neck.
smoothness Of shoulder, width
across back, lOin and ribs and the
fullness and levelness of the hind
quarters. While handling the am
NAL along the back and loin TO de-
termine the width OF these regions.
enough weight should be placed
upon the top line at the juncture Of
loins and ribs to determine the
strength of the back. In handling {.
sheep to ascertain its form the fin
gers should be held closely together
so that they will not penetrate the
wool The flat of the hand rather
than the ends of the fingers should
be used, and while care must he
taken that the sheep is not injured
/ enough pressure must be exerted so
I that the Judge can find what lies IN
der the wool.
Thickness of Fat.
II is practically impossible 10 de-
termine the thickness Of the fat
covering on a SHEEP by sight, but
/ this may be learned at the same
time as the animal is being handled
/ to find how nearly il conforms 60
/ the block or meat type. Condition
/ is indicated especially by the plump
ness and fullness Of breast and
brisket; the depth Of flesh over the
| back and loin. which should he
great enough to cover the spevis of
/ the vertebrae: and the thickness of
the dock or tail. The flesh should
/ he hard to the touch as we'll as
/ thickly laid on, as that guarantees
] proper texture and quality.
TIC examine the fleece for length.
cleanness and quality, part it well
down on the shoulder and on the
thigh. At the former place the fin
est fleece on the body will be found
and At the latter the coarsest. The
nbers of the wool should be long,
/ line and closely crimped or waved in
| appearance and evenly covered with
! yOlK or grease. The fleece should
be easily parted and free from dirt,
| burrs and other fOreiSn material.
! Use the edges of the hands to make
/ the part in the fleece and do net
make it too far up on the back. as
! this allows rain and dirt 10 enter.
! While examining the fleece note
whether the skin is a clear pink, al
Il should be. or too pale or dark. as
sometimes happens. The skin color
is one OF the indications Of the
| health and visor of the sheep. The
mouth of breeding sheep should also
I be inspected. The sheep has four
pairs of incisor teeth in the lower
Jaw and none in the upper. Unless
the sheep is young and shedding its
milk teeth, which occurs up to four
years of age. All these teeth should
be in place ard strongly planted in
the gums Mouths with missing
teeth, or broken mouths. as they are
called, are indications of advancing
age.
Sex Character.
If breeding animals are being Sc
lected. sex character must not be
left out Of consideration; that is.
roominess in the body. soundness OF
udder and breediness of appearance
in the eve and size, strength and
vigor in the ram. Another impOr
tant principle applicable as we'll 10
other kinds of live stock is the uni
fOrmity of the flock. IL is impol
tant that the flock be regarded as a
unit. and that animals be selected
for il not only upon their individ-
]
cred also as being a part OF a group
and therefore that they conform in
general TO the established type OF
the group. The reputation of many
a breeder and the returns he has
gained from his business has in
many cases been due 10 the fact
that he has established a useful
type of live stock in his herd and
has produced IL consistently The
Thing necessary TO accomplish this
is the use of care in selecting the
member of herds and flocks and
considering them IN their rotation
10 the flock as a whole. The re-
turns for selection Of this kind are
as great for the breeder Of grade
animals as for the breeder OF pure