512 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Introduction into Sottth Africa. 



In February, 1907, a sheep breeder of Berlin drew the atteutioii 

 of the German Imperial Government to karakvil sheep, and urged 

 that these sheep should be given a trial in Soutli-West Africa, as, in 

 the opinion of others, including Professor Kuhn, of Halle, these 

 sheep were of great value on account of the lambs' pelts, and that 

 they required a dry country with dry grazing. The German Imperial 

 Government decided to try the experiment : 22 Bams and 252 

 ewes were accordingly shipped to South- West Africa, and arrived at 

 Swakopmund in February, 1909. These sheep were, according to 

 the German records, and also to Professor Robert Wallace, of Edin- 

 burgh, "selected with the greatest care in Bokhara from the best 

 fioclts in the country.'^ It speaks well for the hardiness of the sheep 

 that in the long journey by road and rail from Bokhara to Germany 

 only one sheep died. On their arrival in South Africa they were sent 

 to the Government farm Fiirstenwalde, where, unfortunately, many 

 died within a few months, chiefly from pneumonic and parasitic 

 diseases, and in 1912 the flock consisted of 42 rams and 182 ewes, 

 while some 82 sheep had been sold to farmers. In 1913 a further 

 small importation was made, the sheep coming from Halle, and in 

 1914, a few months before war w-as declared, a large number of ewes 

 were imported from Bokliara via Eussia. It is worthy of mention that 

 many of the best of the old ewes at present in the Government flocks 

 are of this second Russian importation. 



When the country was surrendered to the Fnion troops the 

 pure-bred flock consisted of 80 rams and 360 ewes. 



In 1916 this flock was moved to the Government farm Utjituesu, 

 near Windhuk, and placed in the charge of Mr. Thompson, and there 

 they have remained to date. 



In 1916 also, the Minister of Agriculture agreed to allow the 

 importation of part of this flock into the Union, and 3 rams and 84 

 ewes were transferred to the Grootfontein School of Agriculture, 

 Middelburg (Cape). In 191T. 25 ewes, carefully selected by the 

 writer, who had been put in charge of the investigations into the 

 breeding of these sheep, were added to the flock, and since that date 

 a few rams have also been transferred there. Tli Karroo conditions 

 suited the sheep excellently, and, in spite of the recent years of 

 drought and the sale of about 130 young rams and 75 ewes, the 

 flock at Grootfontein numbers 150 ewes, exclusive of lambs, and 

 10 rams. 



II. 



Description. 



Confonnai ii>n.~^'Yh.<d karakul is essentially a liairy, fat-tailed 

 sheep, not very unlike, the africander in conformation, although 

 larger. The rams are usually horned, although hornless specimens 

 are by no means uncommon, while the ewes are usually hornless, 

 horn ell specimens being decidedly uncommon. The head is rather 

 long and somewliat narrow, the nose markedly roman, especially in 

 the rams, and tapering rather abruptly towards the muzzle. The 

 nostrils are narrow and slit-like, with their lips folded in. This is 

 probably a provision of nature to guard against the driving sand of 

 their native country, and is a characteristic wliicli can with advantage 



