Sheep in New York State 



1803 



The Downs 



The " Downs " are most numerous. These embrace the South- 

 down, Shropshire, Hampshire, Oxford and Suffolk. In this 

 country the first-named were for years the most numerous and 

 popular. Than these, there are no more perfectly formed sheep 

 in existence. They have great fecundity, and the lambs mature 

 early with fine quarters. They will not shear as much as some 

 of their cousins among the '' Downs," neither are they quite as 

 large. 



Perhaps the most popular as well as numerous among this 

 class to-day are the Shropshire. They originated farther north 

 in England and are the result of intermingling of several bloods 

 with the native sheep, notably, Leicester, Cotswold and South- 

 down. Careful selection for more than a half century has pro- 

 duced the beautiful sheep of today. Mature ewes average from 

 125 to 175 pounds, rams from 175 to 250 pounds. They are 

 nearly as prolific as the Southdo\vns, better shearers and their 

 lambs develop as rapidly. Often the ewes are allowed to become 

 too fat to breed well. 



Fig. 173. Champion Suffolk Ram, New York State Fair, 1910. 

 Owned by Milton B. Sisson, Almond, N. Y. 



