1916] ANIMAL PRODUCTTON. 565 



Sheep-breeding investigations, R. H. Williams and W. S. Cunningham 

 (Arizona Sta. Rpt. 1915, pp. 55.'f-560). — In continuation of work previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 33, p. 73), it is reported tliat the Tunis sheep continued to 

 prove themselves vigorous breeders and produce early active lambs with a 

 marked ability to withstand heat. Their greatest fault is that the wool is 

 very coarse, with loose crimp and too much hair, or " kemp." 



Hampshire, Shropshire, Oxford, and Dorset breeds have been used to im- 

 prove the mutton characteristics of the lambs, and have proved valuable for 

 this purpose in the order named. Oxford and Dorset breeds have been elimi- 

 nated because of the high rate of mortality among the lambs. More recently 

 it has been decided to limit the Shropshire blood because of the smaller size, 

 inferior mutton form, and lower percentage of black faces in their lambs 

 than in those of the Hampshire crosses. Unfortunately, the Hampshire crosses 

 are inferior in wool, having a short staple and light fleeces. The weight and 

 quality of wool of the native sheep, which are of Merino foundation, have not 

 been much improved by the above process. 



It is thought that the ideal valley sheep must have a somewhat open fleece, 

 while the range sheep may have a denser and longer fleece, due to their graz- 

 ing in higher altitudes. 



Of the breeds used the Tunis and Hampshire have brought about the greatest 

 improvement. Lambs showing a higli proportion of Tunis blood have been 

 active, alert, and hardy, but have given poor quality of wool and are of only 

 fair mutton conformation. The Tunis-native cross has usually resulted in 

 tan-colored face and legs, although many mottled and white faces are found. 

 The wool from this cross is usually of medium staple, good length, and density, 

 but contains too much kemp. The Hampshire blood has been excellent in 

 improving the mutton form, increasing the size, and stamping black faces on 

 their crosses. A table is given showing the weights at different ages and the 

 average weights of fleece for the more desirable crosses. 



Data kept for three years indicate that lambs born early in the year usually 

 reach a greater weight at six months than those dropped later. The average 

 weight of lambs born in January was greater than that of any other month; 

 February lambs more than March ; March lambs more than April, and April 

 lambs more than May. There was difference of 17.21 lbs. between the average 

 weight of May lambs and those born in February. There is a general tendency 

 for the earliest lambs to reach a larger average weight, due to the fact that 

 there are few or no small lambs. 



There has been found to be a great difference in the fineness and denseness 

 of the wool fibers in the various crosses, and certain crosses have been more 

 efficient than others in eliminating the characteristic Tunis hair, or kemp, from 

 the wool. The Hampshire and Shropshire blood have aided materially in im- 

 proving this fault, the former being of the greatest service. 



In this study it has been noted that there is a close correlation between the 

 fineness and the denseness of wool. In every case where a fleece is reasonably 

 fine it is also fairly dense. 



Maintenance rations for breeding flocks of mutton and wool sheep, B. O. 

 Severson {Pennsylvania Sta. Rpt. 1914, PP- 84-117). — Continuing previous work 

 (E. S. R., 34, p. 171), the four lots of ewes were fed during the 216 days be- 

 ginning April 19. During the summer months all of the breeding ewes with 

 their lambs were placed on the same pasture. The lambs were allowed to 

 suckle their dams until 16 weeks of age, and during this time they were allowed 

 to consume as much gi-ain as they would eat. After weaning, the ewes were 

 placed on another pasture with no grain and the lambs were continued on 



