472 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



ditions, but those with strong constitutions ward off the trouble and are 

 hale and hearty. The strong-constituted sheep possesses the highest de- 

 gree of digestive and assimilative power, and even under unfavorable con- 

 ditions makes most thorough use of all its food. Shropshire fleeces have 

 the greatest density and length combined, thus giving heavy weights and 

 complete protection, altogether making what might well be termed the 

 unequalled general-purpose sheep for the farmer and breeder. The Shrop- 

 shire fleece is a perfect covering all over and under the body and is bred 

 that way not only for increased weight of wool, but for absolute pro- 

 tection from damp, cold weather and storms. The general farmer needs 

 such a breed which will not he soaked to the skin when there is rain or 

 blowing snow. The dense Shropshire fleece, together with their strong 

 constitution, insures health and vigor under all conditions and in varying 

 climates. These characteristics, by keeping up the highest degree ef 

 thrift, aid the sheep in making largest gains, thereby lowering the cost 

 of Shropshire mutton production. On the average farm, wherever located, 

 the Shropshire will give best possible results in the economical production 

 of highest class mutton. 



SELECTING FLOCK HEADERS FOR GRADE FLOCKS. 



Careful methods of breeding have placed the Shropshire hreed of sheep 

 in its present possession of desirable qualities. The greatest profits come 

 to the best breeders. The common class of lambs does not attract the 

 same number of purchasers as the hetter lot, even though the price asked 

 for the former is much lower. This superiority can he attained only by 

 proper methods of breeding. Although the ewe portion of the flock plays 

 a very important part in breeding, the greatest, cheapest and quickest 

 results can be obtained by using the highest class of registered rams. 

 The ram makes a mark on every lamb, while the ewe affects but one or 

 two, as the case may be. 



Before commencing your look for a flock-header, get it thoroughly into 

 your mind just the sort that will do your flock the most good, and after 

 that do not stop until you get him. If you have a grade flock and are 

 producing lambs for market purposes, remember that the strong-consti- 

 tuted, thick-fleshed fellows top the market, and your bunch of lambs 

 must be uniform in size, type, and density of wool to present the desired 

 appearance in the sale pen. Constitution is a prime requisite in sheep, 

 whether they are for the breeding pen, feed lot, or showyard. The ex- 

 tended nostril, strong short neck, wide deep chest, and well-sprung rib all 

 indicate that the heart, lungs and digestive organs have plenty of room 

 in which to do their proper and required work. 



Get a strong constituted ram, correct in mutton conformation, with a 

 dense clear fleece, and all the size possible. The bigger the sheep the 

 better so long as he has good quality of flesh. There is a "happy medium" 

 which combines much size with quality — that is the right sort. It doesn't 

 pay to raise coarse poor feeders or those that fatten in patches, because the 

 market doesn't want that sort, but it never pays to raise little bits of 



