Schedule 1 CLASSES OF CONFORMATION AND FAT COVER TO BE USED IN CLASSIFICATION OF CARCASES OBTAINED FROM SHEEP AGED LESS THAN TWELVE MONTHS

Table 1

Conformation Classes

Descriptions of the essential parts of a sheep carcase (hindquarter, back, and shoulder) which indicate the conformation class for that carcase

Conformation class	Description
S	Hindquarter: double muscled. Profiles extremely convex.
Superior	Back: extremely convex, extremely wide, extremely thick.
	Shoulder: extremely convex and extremely thick.
E	Hindquarter: very thick. Profiles very convex.
Excellent	Back: very convex, very wide and very thick to the shoulder.
	Shoulder: very convex and very thick.
U	Hindquarter: thick. Profiles convex.
Very Good	Back: wide and thick to the shoulder.
	Shoulder: thick and convex.
R	Hindquarter: profiles mainly straight.
Good	Back: thick, but less wide to the shoulder.
	Shoulder: good development, but less thick.
O	Hindquarter: profiles tending to slightly concave.
Fair	Back: lacking width and thickness.
	Shoulder: tending to narrow. Lacking thickness.
P	Hindquarter: profiles concave to very concave.
Poor	Back: narrow and concave, with bones apparent.
	Shoulder: narrow, flat and bones apparent.

Table 2

Class of Fat Cover

Descriptions of the degrees of fat coverage of a sheep carcase which indicate the fat cover class for that carcase

Class of Fat Cover	Description
1. Low	External:	Traces of, or no, fat visible.
	Internal:	Abdominal: Traces of, or no, fat visible on kidneys.
		Thoracic: Traces of, or no, fat visible between ribs.
2. Slight	External:	A slight layer of fat covers part of the carcase, but may be less evident on the limbs.
	Internal:	Abdominal: Traces of fat, or slight layer of fat envelops part of the kidneys.
		Thoracic: Muscle clearly visible between ribs.
3. Average	External:	A light layer of fat covering most, or all, of the carcase. Slightly thickened fat zones at the base of the tail.
	Internal:	Abdominal: Light layer of fat envelops part, or all, of the kidneys.
4. High	External:	A thick layer of fat covering most, or all, of the carcase; but may be thinner on limbs, and thickening on shoulders.
	Internal:	Abdominal: Kidney is enveloped in fat.
		Thoracic: Muscle between ribs may be infiltrated with fat. Fat deposits may be visible on the ribs.
5. Very High	External:	Very thick fat cover. Patches of fat sometimes visible.
	Internal:	Abdominal: Kidneys enveloped in thick layer of fat.
		Thoracic. Muscle between ribs infiltrated with fat. Fat deposits visible on ribs.