Developed by:Richard Coffey, Extension Swine Specialist, University of KentuckyKevin Laurent, Extension Associate, University of KentuckyWarren Beeler, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Judging Sheep

Edited for Georgia by Frank B. FlandersGeorgia Agriculture Education Curriculum OfficeMarch 2002

Steps to Judging Sheep

1. Evaluate animals from the ground up and from the rump (rear) forward

2. Rank the traits for their importance

3. Evaluate the most important traits first

4. Eliminate any easy placings in the class

5. Place the class based on the volume of the important traits

Slide 1

Ranking of Traits for Market Lambs

1. Degree of muscling2. Degree of finish3. Balance and style4. Frame size5. Soundness and structural

correctness

Slide 2

Ranking of Traits for Breeding Ewes

1. Style and balance2. Frame size3. Soundness and structural

correctness4. Capacity or volume5. Degree of muscling6. Degree of leanness7. Wool

Slide 3

Evaluating Degree of Muscling

To evaluate degree of muscling, pay close attention to:

1. Thickness through the center of the leg

2. Width between the rear legs when the animal is on the move

3. Length of the hindsaddle 4. Width and length of the loin 5. Grooved shape over the rack

Slide 4

Evaluating Degree of Muscling

- Center Leg and Base Width -Light muscled(narrow)

Average muscled(average width)

Heavy muscled(wide)

Slide 5

Evaluating Degree of Muscling

- Width and Length of Loin -A wide loin is desired in market lambs

A long loin is desired in market lambs

Slide 6

Evaluating Degree of Muscling

- Length of Hindsaddle -

Hindsaddle Foresaddle

Greater length of hindsaddle (relative to the foresaddle) is desired in sheep

Slide 7

Evaluating Degree of Muscling

- Shape Over Rack -

RackGrooved shape over the rack is desired in sheep

Slide 8

Evaluating Degree of Finish1. Lambs should be lean with an ideal

backfat thickness of 0.15 to 0.20 inches

2. Degree of muscling, frame size, and stage of maturity influence degree of finish

Watch out for short, light muscled lambs

Fat sheep will be widest over the top

3. Lambs that are lean will be: Very trim over and behind the

shoulder Extremely clean and neat

through underline

Slide 9

Evaluating Degree of Finish

Fat Alert !!

Sloppy, loose middle

Heavy fronted

Flat, wide top

Good rule to follow: Fat sheep go last in the class

Slide 10

Evaluating Degree of Finish

Ideal finish

Lamb is very trim with base width is at least

as wide as width of top

Slide 11

Evaluating Degree of Finish

Ideal finish

Clean and trim over and behind shoulder

Trim and neat through underline

Slide 12

Evaluating Balance and StyleBalance deals with having equal

portions of width, depth, and length, with special emphasis on length:

Slide 13

•Sheep should be wide and deep at the rear and tight and trim through the front-end (Christmas tree shape)• Volume of weight in leg and loin

Style deals with correctness of structure and straightness of design:•A straight top line is desired

•A neat, smooth shoulder that blends smoothly into the neck and ribs is desired

Evaluating Balance and Style

Nasty Sheep Alert !!

(no balance)

Steeprumped

Heavy fronted

Deepnecked

LowneckedToo heavy

through middle

Slide 14

Broken topped

Evaluating Balance and Style

Unbalanced

Wrong angle:

heavier in the front half than in the rear half

Slide 15

Evaluating Balance and Style

Nicebalance

Slide 16

Evaluating Balance and Style

Poor Style

Neck too deep and low in its placement

Too open shouldered

Weak topped

Steep rumped

Slide 17

Evaluating Balance and StyleGood style points

Straight top line

Very high, correct neck- shoulder connection

Level rump

Slide 18

Evaluating Balance and Style

Clean, flat breast

Smooth at point of shoulder

Very high set to neck

Tight over shoulders, correct angular shape

Slide 19

Good Style Points!

Evaluating Soundness and

Structural CorrectnessWhen evaluating soundness and structural correctness, pay close attention to:

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

Slide 20

Evaluating Soundness- Feet and Pasterns -Not good

Too much set to

pastern

Poor depth of heel (hoof-

skin junction too low)

Cripple Alert !

Extreme set to pastern

Very poor depth of heal

Slide 21

Evaluating Soundness- Feet and Pasterns -

Big, even toes

Nice feet and pastern

Correct set to pastern

Foot sits flat and even on ground

Good depth of heal

Slide 22

Nice!

Evaluating Soundness- Hocks -

Too much set to hocks Correct hocks

Flex and power

Slide 23

Knees that need improvement

Evaluating Soundness- Knees -

Buck-knee and restricted

Knee bowedslightly inward

Slide 24

Evaluating Soundness- Knees -

Good Knees

Straight and strong knee

Proper knee flex for movement

Slide 25

Evaluating Soundness- Rump -

Rumps that need improvement

Short andsteep rumped Long but

steep rumped

Level butshort rumped

Slide 26

Evaluating Soundness- Rump -

Just Right

Level rump design

Very long rumped

Slide 27

Evaluating Soundness- Shoulders -

Poor shoulder structure

Open shouldered

Coarse shouldered

Slide 28

Evaluating Soundness- Shoulders -

Good shoulders

Tight at topof shoulder

Smooth at pointof shoulder

Blends smoothly from shoulder to

forerib

Slide 29

Example Market

Lamb Class I

Slide 30

Official Placing:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Cuts:2 - 3 - 6

1 2

3 4

Slide 31

Cheviot

• Originated in Scotland• Resistant to cold,

windy conditions• White, wool free faces• Long wool type• Wool has a helical

crimp• Tend to be resistant to

worms and footrot

Columbia

• Developed by the US Department of Ag

• Developed to thrive on Western ranges

• Produce medium wool and large amounts of meat

Corriedale

• Developed in New Zealand & Australia

• Dual purpose breed• Produces bulky, high

density wool• Most popular breed

in South America

Dorset

• Originated in Europe• Medium-sized breed

with high quality, white wool

• Most popular white-faced breed in the United States

• Horned and polled varieties exist

Hampshire

• Originated in Hampshire, England

• Black face and legs• Mild demeanor• Unbroken wool cap

should extend from the neck over the forehead

Jacob

• Originated in England

• Two, four, or six horns

• Black and white fleece

• Fleece is highly sought after

• Unimproved breed

Lincoln

• Originated in England

• The largest breed of sheep

• Long-wooled breed• White faces• Pronounced forelock

between the ears

Merino

• Originated in Australia• Primarily a wool breed• White-faced• Most popular breed in

Australia• High quality wool

used in the textile industry

Oxford

• Originated in England• Second largest sheep

breed• Meat-type breed• Tends to forage for its

own food• White with black ears

and bridge of nose

Rambouillet

• Originated in Spain• Shipped to France

in 1801• White in color

Southdown

• Developed in England

• Well suited to farm flock production

• Gray face with white body

• Adapted to wet conditions

Suffolk

• Originated in England

• Most popular breed in the US today

• Produce large amounts of meat

• White with black faces and legs