Structural Suffolk
WEAK BEHIND SHOULDERS
BUCK-KNEED
Structural correctness refers to the proper alignment of joints that evenly and naturally distribute a sheep’s weight. This allows for free, painless movement and contributes to a sheep’s longevity and useful productive life in the flock.
front legs Shoulders &
Results from open shoulders (shoulder blades separate) allowing spine to drop. Shoulder blades should come together at the top of the shoulder.
Knee deviates outward affecting longevity and joint stress.
This is a diagram of the proper alignment of the front leg of a sheep. The shoulder blade is set at the correct angle and balances atop the bones of the foreleg. When bones move out of this sort of alignment, there can be excess weight put on a joint that will result in some degree of pain, joint wear and ultimate loss of productive use. Sheep that deal with pain and lameness struggle to move and thrive and are ultimately culled when they do not thrive.
KNOCK KNEED
TUCKED IN LEGS
BY COMPARISON THESE ARE ADDITIONAL ALIGNMENT IMAGES OF THE FRONT LEG AS VIEWED FROM THE SIDE WITH DEVIATIONS THAT SHOULD BE SELECTED AGAINST:
Inward knee deviation causing joint strain and pain that affects hoof wear and longevity.
Front legs set close and deviate inward at the knee. Often associated with a narrow chest and lack of capacity.
1. Properly aligned front leg, knee is strong and straight and pastern angle set at about 30 degrees for flexibility, heel is deep and toes short suggesting even wear.
2. Weak front pastern, dew claw is lowered, heel is shallow, toe is long. The front leg supports more than 50% of the sheep’s weight and this results in painful joints and ability to reach in stride.
4. Front leg is too straight in joint
3. Over at the knee or “buck kneed”. Impairs movement and shortens the life and usefulness of the sheep.
BOWED FRONT LEGS
NARROW CHEST
alignment, a condition that causes lameness due to the excessive concussion and weight distributed on the joints.
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Knees deviate outwardly putting excess stress on joints and affecting longevity and hoof wear.
Associated with lack of capacity, vigor and durability.
BY COMPARISON THESE ARE ADDITIONAL ALIGNMENT IMAGES OF THE FRONT LEG AS VIEWED HEAD ON WITH DEVIATIONS THAT SHOULD BE SELECTED AGAINST: 1. Wide, square front leg placement. A
WIDE CHEST
SPLAYED FEET
2. Feet and legs deviate outward putting strain on the knee and unevenly distributing weight.
4. Wide chested, open shouldered with feet turned inward noticeable in a paddling gait on the move.
3. Narrow chested indicating lack of capacity and vigor. Legs placed too close together as a result.
plumb line dropped from the point of the shoulder intersects directly through the middle of the knee and foot to evenly distribute weight.
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Extreme chest width that can be related to a wide shoulder set or over conditioning that affects productivity.
Front feet turn out affecting hoof wear and knee joint function.
illustrations by cali roberson & Steven paasch 30
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