Sheep Discovery - Judging Sheep

Key Points for Judging Sheep

1. Evaluate animals first from the ground up and then from the rear forward.
2. Rank the tgraits for their importance.
3. Evaluate the most important traits first.
4. Eliminate any easy placings.
5. Place the class based on the volume of the important traits.

Ranking of Traits for Market Lambs

1. Degree of muscling
2. Degree of finish
3. Balance (also deals with capacity or volume) and style
4. Frame size
5. Soundness and structure correctness.

Ranking of Traits for Breeding Ewes

1. Balance (also deals with capacity or volume) and style
2. Frame size
3. Soundness and structural correctness
4. Degree of muscling
5. Degree of leanness
6. Wool

Evaluating Degree of Muscling

Degree of muscling in sheep is best evaluated by considering:

1. Thickness through the center of the leg.
2. Width between the rear legs as the animal walks or stands.
3. Width and length of the loin.
4. Length of the hind saddle.
5. Shape over the rack.

Evaluating Degree of Finish

Degree of finish in sheep is influenced by:

1. Degree of muscling
2. Frame size.
3. Stage of maturity.

Ideally, lambs should be lean with an average backfat thickness of 0.15 to 0.20 inch.

Lambs that are lean will be:

1. Very trim over and behind the shouldre.
2. Extremely clean and neat through underline.

Evaluating Balance and Style

Balance in sheep deals with having equal portions of:

1. Body width
2. Body depth
3. Body length (special emphasis placed here)

Sheep should be wide and deep at the rear and tight and trim through the front-end

• Christmas tree shape with the largest volume of weight in the leg and loin.

Evaluating Balance and Style

Style in sheep deals with:

1. Correctness of structure
2. Straightness of design

Sheep with good style will have:

• A straight top line.
• A neat, smooth shoulder that blends smoothly into the neck and ribs.

Evaluating Frame Size

Frame size is important so market lambs can grow to a market weight of 130 lb without excess fat.

Frame size is evaluated by giving consideration to:

1. Length of body
   • Measured from the fore flank to the rear flank.
2. Height
   • Measured from the top of the shoulder to the ground.

Evaluating Structure & Soundness

Evaluating soundness and structural correctness, pay close attention to:

1. Feet and pasterns
2. Hocks
3. Knees
4. Rumps
5. Shoulders

Final Tips for Judging Sheep

• Remember the important Traits.
• Know what "correct" looks like.
• Look at lots of market lambs and ewes.
• Practice your judging skills.

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