Fitting sheep for show ring and market

Front matter

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Author's Preface

O more enchanting work, perhaps, falls to the lot of tile shepherd tiian that of the fitting of his show Hock for battle in llic ring. A well-fitted show-flock is the pride of the shepherd, the joy of the flockmaster. and one of the prettiest and 'ip^'|"i[?'4f most valuable object lessons that can be pre- »p scnted to lovers of rural life. Whilst it is unde-

niably true that we have many really clever fitters among us, it is no less true that the proportion of American born ones is lamentably small. The reasons that may be offered in defense of such state of things are legion; among the most prominent being: The jealous way in which shepherds guard their "secrets." — so-called, — and the half-hearted way in which the majority of our most popular works on sheephusbandry treat on this most important branch in the management of stud flocks.

This volume is not intended as a brilliant literary production, but as a plain, practical instructor to the novice who aspires to become proficient in the art of fitting sheep for the show-ring, market, etc.

What I have gleaned from many years of practical experience in the fitting and handling of show-flocks, in the United States. Canada, and England, on what I believe to be the most modern and approved principles, will be herein chronicled in as clear and terse a manner as the author's literary abilities will allow. That many of our fraternity will find this volume of value, and help to them i« the sincere wish of

SHEPHHRD BOY.

Part I. Fitting Sheep For Show

Selection— Seek for Constitutiou— The State Fair as an Object Lesson—Judgment — Points— The Fleece'^The Skin — Feeding — Feeding to be Governed by Temperament — The Feeding of Lambs— Usual Way of Feeding Lambs— Punctuality in Feeding— Importance of Forcing-' What is Bloom? — Ewes Damaged by Their Own Urine- Milk-fed Lambs— Early Lambs Best for Show— Getting Ewes in Season— A Good Cress for Exhibition Purposes— Housing— Exercise— Care of Feet — Shearing— Stubble-Shearing — Blocking Out— Show Lambs Not to be Shorn — Washing — Dipping — Coloring — Trimming — Blanketing — How Blankets are Made — The Fitting of Wethers — Making Entries for Show — Starting for the Shows — What Constitutes the Various Classes of Show Sheep — Overheating of Show Stock — The Importance of Exercise for Show Sheep While on the Circuit — Sheep Getting Tired — Judging Day — Showing Out— How to Reduce Show Stock — Spring Crops- The Preparation of Sheep for Sale by Auction — Preparing Rams for Sale

Part II. General Management Of The Flock

The Relation of Shepherd and Flockmaster — The Evolution of the Modern Mutton Breeds — On Purchasing the Flock — The Fleece of Breeding Stock — Mating — Inbreeding^The Management of the Ram When in Service — The Teaser — The Sheep Barn — In the Shepherds' Room — Ventilation — How Often Should the Sheep Barn be Cleaned? — The Importance of Abundant Bedding— The Value of a Straw Stack — The Importance of Keeping Sheep of Different Ages Separated — Shepherd's Marking Ink — Hurdles— Lambing Pens— The Care of Pregnant Ewes — Importance of Exercise for Breeding Ewes — Change of Pasture— Feeding the Breeding Ewes — A Cheap and Healthful Ration for Breeding Ewes — Regularity in Feeding — At What Time Should Lambs Come?— Period of Gestation — The First Symptoms of Yeaning — How to Manage a Ewe When Yeaning — Troubles in Yeaning — Ewes Disowning Their Lambs— How to Make Them Own Them — How to Make a Stanchion — How to Suckle a Lamb — Reviving a Chilled Lamb— Wool to be Clipped from the Ewe's Flanks and Udder— How to Catch a Sheep — Raising a Cosset Lamb— Marking the Lambs — Feeding the Lambs — Baby Fat — Ear-tagging — Weaning — Docking —

Contents — Concluded.

Maggots— Breeding of Ewe Lambs— Using Ram Lambs— Breeding of Dorsets Twice a Year— How to Tell a Sheep's Age— Tagging— How to Drench a Sheep— Dipping— The Shearing of Stud Flocks— Various Styles of Shearing— On Tying the Fleece.

Part III. Raising Hothouse Lambs

Ewes to be Stimulated by Extra Feed— Castrating or Docking Spring Lambs Unnecessary — Desirable Markets — In the Hothouse — Rations for Spring Lambs— Rations for the Breeding Ewes.

COMMON AILMENTS OF THE FLOCK AND HOW TO TREAT THEM.

The Hospital — The Stomach Worm— To Prevent the Attack of the Gadfly— Constipation — White Scours — The Liver Fluke — Woolballs in Lambs' Stomachs— Stretches— Navel-ill— Garget— Ewes Casting Their Withers — Scab — Tapeworm — Inflammation of the Eyes — "Quidders"— Diarrhoea — Joint-evil — Tumors — Caked Udder — Abortion — Lice — The Sheep Tick— Footrot— Grub in the Head — Bloat — Broken Limbs — Urinary Troubles of Rams — Colic — Rupture — Sore Teats — How to Bleed a Sheep — Nodular Disease of the Intestines — Hints on Making a Post- Mortem Examination (illustrated).

Part V. Forage Crops That Are Especially Suitable For Sheep

Forage Crops — Roots — Cabbage — Thousand-headed Kale — White Mustard— Kohl Rabi — Common Turnips — Mangels, or Beets — The Sand Vetch — The Spring Vetch — Rye — How to Raise Rape — Rape in the Cornfield — Ensilage — Sainfoin— Alfalfa, or Lucerne.

SLAUGHTERING AND DRESSING SHEEP AND LAMBS FOR MARKET.

Selection of Fat Lambs— Fasting— Appliances for Slaughtering- Sticking— "Pithing"— Legging — "Wizzling" — Washing — Gutting— Skewering up the Shanks, etc. — Fixing up a Lamb— How to Fix a Poor Lamb to Make it Appear Fat — Packing and Shipping — Cleanliness in Dressing— How to Cut Up a Mutton Carcass — On Judging Mutton Sheep.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

1. How to mnke a sheop l)Uinkot 39

3. Interior view of modem slieep barn 74

4. Ground plan of modern sbeep baru 7(j

5. Hurdle No. 1 sn

6. Hurdle No. 2 8C

7. Clamps used in castrating IK!

S. Diagram of dipping plant 132

9. Diagram of dipping plant 1.'54

10. Sheep shorn the long way 13S

11. Fleams used in bleeding sheep ■ 19."i

12. Partially dissected sheep 200

13. Lamb dressed with leng baclisets 204

14. Lamb dressed with sliort bacljsets 20'J

ir>. Grade yearling wether 21S

16. Mutton carcass 22."

17. Saddle and legs of mutton 221;

18. Dressed yearling wether 22'J

19. Lamb dressed with short baclisets— front view 231

PLATES.

I. A Typieal English Scene Frontispiece

II. Oxford Ram 23

III. Group of Lincolns 51

V. Hampshires .'iS

VI. Group of American Merinos C7

VII. Cheviot Ram 81

IX. Group of Dorsets 103

X. Shropshire Ram Ill

XI. Romney Marsh Ram 121

XII. Dorset Ram 14."

XIII. Shropshire' Lamlis l.^O

XV. Cotswolds 171

XVI. Flock of Suefidks 179

PART I. Selection

N • THE selection of suitable subjects for the show-ring, the greatest care and soundest judgment must needs be employed to avoid disaster ;it the cutset, and animals carrying only the truest impress and highest characteristics of the breed I %•'•- '^ v^--' ■ ■ '"tended to be represented, should be selected.

Whilst size is a most important factor in the make-up of a show animal, the fact should not be lost sight of that quality must under no consideration be sacrificed at the expense of quantity. That an animal of extra large size, possessed of extra quality, must naturally defeat an animal of less size and carrying no more quality than its opponent, must be at once clear to the merest novice. It does not stand that no big rams carry quality of a high degree any more than all small or medium size ones carry the superlative degree of quality. But it should be borne in mind that a happy combination of size and quality, and vice-versa, is the key-note of the exhibitors' success.

Seek for Constitution.

One most important feature in the selection of our sheep is constitution. Be observant that both rams and ewes carry the true signs of constitution, but don't mistake yourself that coarseness is evidence of this vahiable characteristic.

There are many powerfully built sheep, that is, sheep carrying immense bone, which are constitutionally weak. IMany of the largest members of our flocks are upon examination found to be built upon lines wholly against the laws that denote strong constitution. They are slab-sided, or in other words, their ribs are imperfectly sprung, they have not the necessary room for the proper development of a healthy pair of lungs. The muscles of the leg, the muscle fibre, and rotundity of the twist that show the strength to carry a heavy body are not in evidence, neither is thickness of flesh, breadth of skull, width between the eyes, and the short, thick, stubby face that denotes power of stubborn endurance. Usually a sheep low on leg, with well sprung ribs, deep in chest, strong in twist, carries a constitution that ivill meet all ordinaryrequirements and expectations of modern shepherds.

The State Fair as an Object Lesson.

No better opportunity ofi^ers itself to the novice for observing what really constitutes quality of a high degree in sheep than that of a visit to almost any of our State fairs; especially those of the Middle and Eastern states. Here we find congregated together in battle array, some of the finest specimens of sheep that the world can produce, or money purchase; and it is here we find ample room for comparison of degree of quality as pertains to the various exhibits of one individual breed of sheep, or the broader comparison of breed against breed; this, then, will not fail to prove one of the most

¥OK Snow Ring and Makkf.t.

interesting and valuable object lessons procurable (<> the youthful aspirant to fame in the show-ring.

Judj^ment.

It is among the thougluful. patient and observant shepherds that we find our best judges of sheep. It requires conslant handling of a breed to become thoroughly acquainted with the true exhibition points, qualities and merits of a breed. In these days of rapid progress, fashion asserts her sway, even on subjects pertaining to shepherding. The type of some of our leading mutton breeds of sheep has undergone a decidedly marked change and great improvement during the past ten years; therefore, it can be easily understood why to become a really expert judge o{ a breed it requires thought, observation, and the constant handling and studying of a breed to thoroughly understand the true type that fashion dictates as being the correct one of to-day. Whilst in fat stock contests the mutton conformation of the animal is the leading consideration, in breed contests- the embellishments that must accompany true mutton form in the makeup of a typical show animal must be given due consideration. It is well for the novice to hold this fact in view, and if he is not satisfied in himself that he is capable of making judicious selections of show stock, he shoidd seek aid from the many reliable sources this country admits of.

Quite often judges are called upon and accept the responsibility of passing judgment upon exhibits of the various breeds of sheep, the character and general conformation of which they cannot be said to be conversant with. Although they may conscientiously do the best their judgment dictates.

they sometimes err so much that they do great harm and injustice to the breeders and their exhibits, while at the same time they detract from their own credit as judges of the breed of sheep the merits and points of which they may be actually conversant with. While we may know what the most desirable conformation of the body of a typical mutton sheep may be, the type and characteristic^ of the various mutton breeds vary so much that to get a correct idea of them we must iiave considerable experience in handling them before we should be admitted as critical judges of any of the breeds we are to pass judgment upon. For those having experience in handling sheep other than the Merino to pass judgment upon a modern Shropshire could not be accepted as anything but an injustice to the breeder and exhibitor, and vice versa, for what can a shepherd who has handled nothing but mutton breeds be expected to know about the technical points and type of a well-bred Merino? It cannot be expected that he should know any more than a Shire horse breeder who has never handled a race horse should be acquainted with the points of the latter. Another mistake often made by judges is that of allowing over-fed, broken-down sheep to take premier places over sheep that are in the fullest of health and bloom. While they will carefully examine the fleece to find a trace of dark wool, and the skin for undesirable discolorations, they will totally ignore the importance of trotting the animals around the ring to see if they are firm on their pasterns or have been overheated in feeding and thereby rendered useless for procreating their species. When an animal is shown let him be shown for what he is actually worth to-day, not for what he has been, or what he may some day be. Entirely too many sheep are shown which are said to have

FOR Show Ring and Market.

been injured on the cars, when in reality they are nothin!C more or less than lame, over-fed. broken-down, useless tubs of blubber dressed in sheep's clothing.

Points.

I have always considered that the principal points of a ram to be a thick, heavy scrag, a broad, distended nostril, and a thick shapely twist. In company with these, we almost invariably find a strong, robust constitution; broad, fleshy loin; full, broad chest and brisket, breadtli between the ears and eyes; good, broad, level, smooth crops, and a good, strong level back. When working as a slaughterman in the old country, I almost invariably noticed that animals carrying the thick scrag and full twist were the best "cutters" all the way through. A ram with a thin scrag, or twist, should be quickly discarded for show or any other purpose.

A well sprung rib is usually found in company with a full, shapely twist; on the other hand, however, it does not follow that an animal carrying the most correctly sprung rib invariably carries a good twist. It appears that nature does more for the welfare and proper development of the forequarters of the male animal than it does for his hind-quarters. This is plainly evident in the conforniation of the male sex of almost all wild animals of a herbivorous nature. The heavy shoulders appear unbecoming and unsuitable companions for the lank hind-quarters of many of these animals: this same . thing being evident also among our domestic animals where breeding has not been carefully studied.

There is always a tendency among our domestic animals to reversion, and with neglect they will soon be on the road of retrogression. It is very easy for the novice to make a serious mistake in judging the points of an animal by confounding a poor twist with a good one; he too often thinks that because a sheep is "well-meated" down the thighs and not "split up" behind that he is perfect in twist. Upon critical examination, however, this does not always prove to be true. Upon taking a rear view of an animal we often find that although "well meated" down the leg, even to the gambrel joint, it shows a somewhat contracted or squeezed appearance, the leg of mutton showing a tendency to flatness instead of roundness. Then, again, the legs are not set wide enough apart, and that graceful curve and full muscle that goes to form the well-developed twist is not in evidence, neither does the animal stand with that degree of assurance and strength, or is he so active on his feet as the animal that carries the well formed twist. There is as much difiference in the shape of a good twist and a poor one as there is in a wellshaped pear before and after being flattened out by pressure.

The sheep with a well-formed Iwist carries mutton on both the inside and outside of the leg; the rotundity of the leg plainly showing it. Sheep strong in the twist are not usually easily broken down while being fitted for the show ring, where the proper and necessary exercise is allowed them. Good twists are more often met with in short-legged animals than in others.

.\nother thing which does not usually receive the neces- .sary attention and judgment at the hands of the novice, and indeed many of our experienced judges, is the proper development of the crops of a sheep. Too many animals that have no crops at all, as it were, too often receive honors that should be given to more deserving animals. No animal with imperfectly sprung ribs can be said to be good on the crops. Where the ribs are well sprung the shoulders are well set apart, but where ilic animal is slab-sided the shoulder-blades usually run together at a point, which at once condemns the animal as one decidedly poor in the crops, and an animal poor in this point cannot be accepted as of a desirable mutton form.

All rams of both the Downs and the Longwools should be polled or free from horns. No matter how good they may otherwise be, no ram should be awarded a premium that shows the slightest trace of horns or stubs. Even now, after many years of careful breeding our Downs are liable to produce horns once in a while, but of course cases of this kind become more rare each year.

The Fleece.

The fleece of show stock should be minutely examined, and any showing the slightest tendency to dark or black spots should not be countenanced, either as show or breeding stock. There is a tendency in some breeds to "throw dark spots" in fleece more so than in others. I refrain from individualizing or mentioning breeds, for reasons that must be obvious. Sometimes these black spots, if any exist, are to be found in the wool on the thighs or more properly, perhaps, hind legs of the animal.

Sometimes the purest blooded sheep are found carrying imperfections of the fleece, such as dark or gray tufts of wool, on their sides or other parts of their bodies; in many cases they are so small as to be easily overlooked by the judge, while in others they will be as large as a silver dollar. This,.

of course, being plainly visible at once condemns them as show animals. Some unscrupu'ous exhibitors have been known to do some pretty sleek "jockeying" to hide these defects. There are instances in which ten cents worth of dye has been known to be the means of a sheep — that was utterly disqualified for show purposes on account of defects of the fleece — winning a premium to which another animal was justly entitled. Sheep having traces of black or discolored wool are very apt to transmit them to the offspring, hence the importance of at once turning down a specimen carrying these defects. Down sheep with long coarse fleeces should not be selected as candidates for the show ring, no matter what other good qualities they may have to recommend them, neither should sheep with the least trace of "kemp" in its fleece, as it cannot possibly win under a judge that is worthy of the name. Kemp is usually found on sheep carrying a light, open fleece. It is most prominent on the breech of the animal, more so than on any other part of its body, although it is usually found disseminated entirely over it. Some authorities claim this to be a disease. The writer has always considered it more of a freak of nature, as sometimes lambs from the best bred flocks, both males and females, will be found to be "kempy." In no case is it advisable to use an animal that has the least trace of "kemp" in its fleece for breeding purposes. A show sheep of the Down breeds should be covered from the "nose to the toes" with as compact, dense, and fine a fleece as is possible to procure in an animal that has all the other qualities that go in the make-up of a really good show animal. When examining the fleece in selecting candidates for exhibition purposes great attention should be given to the condition of the "breech"

of the animal, as tliis is where defects in the fleece will be most conspicuous, if existing at all. The finest and most valuable portion of the fleece is found at a point near the center of the shoulder-blade, and extending in a line along the animal's side to a point just above the flank. The student would do well to carefully examine and study the diflerence in the nature and quality of the various parts or sections of the fleece of the stock he intends to exhibit before wasting care and feed on animals that on account of the inferiority in these respects cannot possibly win a premium. A close, dense fleece is generally short in staple. This is preferable, however, to the long, coarse, open fleece; that is, where the Down breeds of sheep are considered. The fleece is the criterion of the health of a sheep, and where the show animal's fleece is dry and harsh something surely is wrong, as a well-fed sheep when in health carries a fleece full of life and lustre. The fleece of the Dorset is wonderfully free from defects, as far as discoloration of same is considered. The writer has never as yet seen a Dorset clothed in a black or discolored fleece. This is no doubt accounted for from the fact of their having been bred in purity for so long a time. It is important that the fleece of the Longwools be of great length of staple, strong in fibre, and finely crimped almost to curliness.

The Skin.

The skin of show, and, for that matter, of all sheep, should be of a beautiful, rich, brilliant pink, free from foreign color or shade. It is claimed (and no doubt with good reason) by the greatest living authorities, that a pale skin points ta a delicate constitution. This is amply proven by the fact that the most beautiful pink skin of the most robust, healthy animal will fade and assume a dull, sickly, pale hue when attacked with disease; therefore, we may assume that a pink skin is a safe criterion of health.

What is a pink skin? This question is more easily asked than answered. When we speak of a pink skin as pertaining to sheep we understand it to be a pure soft pink, pure as the pinkest shade of color to be found in the whole list of our Flora. Some sheep, even those that have undergone the ordeal of fitting, are the possessors of skins that are so dark in color that they cannot with any degree of truth be classed as pink, while on the other hand some are possessors of skins either so pale or so spotted that neither can successfully lay claim as owners of pink skins. Feeding and general treatment will considerably affect the hue or shade of the skin.

The color of the skin is sometimes heightened by high feeding, while poor treatment will give it a decidedly pale and "ofif" appearance.

The intending exhibitor should well consider the character of the animal's skin if his ambition and hopes are to be realized in the show-ring. In some breeds of sheep imperfect skins are more common than in others. The writer has always found that Dorsets when in good health carry a pink skin to a greater degree of perfection than any other breed he has yet handled.

Feeding.

The successful feeding of show animals is an art in which very few, comparatively, can be said to excel. It is not a difficult matter to fatten sheep, usually, but to place an

FOR Show Ring and Market. IT exhibit in tlie sliow-yard in that ripe, happy, and balanced condition known as bloom, is a matter that no haphazard feeder can ever hope to successfully cope with, especially where stale stock is under consideration. (By stale stock, I mean aged stock that has been repeatedly fitted.) Whilst it is advisable, generally, to have new, fresh, young animals to exhibit each season, sometimes it is found profitable to ht an animal of outstanding character and .nerit more than one season.

The art and aim of the cook is to cook articles of food to a nicety; not over or underdone, but "just so." The art and aim of the shepherd should be to fit to a nicety. There is a moment in the life of a flower when it is in the height of bloom, when its beauty is at its best, and in its most perfect state; another moment and it is descending the road to decay, its bloom is gone, and therefore its charms. Just so with our show sheep. There is an indescribable charm in the appearance of the fleece, consistency of flesh, and color of skin, aye, even the countenance of an animal in perfect bloom, that never can be found in either the under-fed or over-fed one.

Feeding; to be Governed by Temperament.

An old adage says: "What is one man's food is another man's poison." What will make bloom on one animal will sometimes make blubber on another; therefore the temperament of the animal under course of fitting must be consulted to bring about good results. If the feeder is a careful observer and attentive to his business, he will soon learn what the various members of his flock are capable of, as regards feeding. Ewes, as a rule, fatten more readily than either rams or wethers. Aged ewes are apt to take on soft, blubbery, superfluous fat, unless very carefully fed and abundantly exercised.

The Feeding of Lambs.

The first few days after parturition is a very critical time among high-bred, blooded stock, and great care should be exercised in the feeding of the dam, as most assuredly any irregularity of her system will be transmitted to the ofifspring. Again, I would warn the novice of the ill effects of the over-feeding of grain. Over-rich milk, sometimes the result of grain feeding, means poison to the newly yeaned lamb. Plenty of ordinary fodder is the best food for a ewe that has recently yeaned. Grain can be fed with good results as soon as the ewe and lamb are "up and getting thar." Scours and constipation are the most common source of trouble to the new-born lamb. If the lamb appears dull, and sleepy, constipation is usually found to be the cause. Give an injection of warm soapy water, and change diet of ewe; this will quickly rectify this trouble.

Bran, oats and oil-cake, mixed to suit the temperament, and constitution of the animal, cannot be surpassed as a grain ration for milking ewes. One pound a day will be found ample where clover hay and roots are in abundance. As soon as the lambs commence to eat they get bran anr oats, mixed, and clover hay ad libitum, fed in troughs, anc racks set in a pen partitioned ofi from where the ewes can get access to it and the lambs can get it, by going through "creeps." After a while — say three weeks — oilmeal should be added to their grain ration.

Usual Way of Feeding Lambs.

As soon as the lambs are weaned, my methods of feedinp are as follows:

At 6 A. M. a light grain ration, composed of bran, oats and oil meal, with a little specially-prepared "lamb food" added; after which follows a ration of rape, oats, peas, or a combination of these valuable fodders, fed, of course, in a green state at noon; a mere taste of grain, clover cut early in the morning, and having been allowed to become wilted, thereby minimizing danger of bloat. At 6 P. M. moderate grain ration, and about a two hours' run in the rape lot, in the cool of the evening, when weather permits. Good bright clover hay must be fed after each meal, care being observed to change it often. In fact, as soon as each animal has got through eating the allowed ration, all troughs and hay racks should be emptied of their contents. The appetite must be cultivated very carefully; stale rations are detrimental to the well being of our stock.

Punctuality in Feeding.

The feeding of stock intended for exhibition purposes must be attended to with the utmost punctuality and regularity by the watch, and "at the drop of the hat," as it were. Condition powders should be fed occasionally. Unnecessary to mention, perhaps, salt must be always provided.

Importance of Forcing.

It may be superfluous to mention that all young animals intended for show purposes should never have known what real hunger is; but, on the contrary, have been pushed along as rapidly as is consistent with safety since their birth. A shiftless, unattentive, unfaithful shepherd can never hope to attain any fame in exhibition circles. Regularity and punctuality in feeding must be his watchword, or he fails to accomplish anything.

Whilst grain is an indispensable adjunct to the successful feeding and fitting of show stock, I am herein tempted to say without the least fear of possible successful contradiction, that there are more show animals ruined and more shepherds have failed as fitters of show stock by the over-feeding of grain than from any one other known cause. What does it mean? It means blubber, it means founder, it means rickets, it means overheating and grogginess, it means ruin to the fiockmaster, and disgrace to the shepherd. So I say to the young aspirant to show honors, Beware! Rations of a juicy, succulent nature are what bring about that beautiful happy condition, known as "bloom" to the show-follower. Rape, cabbage, kale, rutabagas, beets and mangels — the latter-named not for rams, however — are both food and medicine to the growing animal. Grain is a most valuable adjunct in the composition of the show animal's ration when fed in a rational and moderate manner, but a direct injury and poison when once the bounds of moderation are strained. How much grain should be fed to an animal depends much on its constitution, age, etc. This must be governed by the ■feeder.