520 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



In classing lambs, therefore, the types recognized are A and B 

 only. 



In classing' lambs as above, physique, etc., is not taken into 

 consideration at all, only the pelt, from a fur point of view, being 

 judged. Any defect such as an overshot or an undershot jaw is, 

 of course, noted, and tlie lambs killed, but if the pelt is all that is to 

 be desired, such a lamb might still be classed as Al. 



The best age to describe lambs to do them justice is when they 

 are from tliree to four days old, but much depends upon the type of 

 curl and the length of the hair, and only experience can tell the 

 breeder when any particular lamb will be at its best. " Watered silk " 

 lambs as a rule become very curly by the time they are seven days of 

 age, and if they are then described such description would not be at 

 all a correct record of wbat the lamb actually was at its best. 



The curl and lustre and nature of the lamb pelt changes rapidly. 

 For the first forty-eight hours after birth the hair has not yet taken 

 its jjroper place and the pelt does not show at its best. After three 

 or four days the curl opens considerably; the hair becomes too long, 

 often the lustre lessens and the pelt is useless as a fur (see Plate 9). 



At botli tlie Grootfontein and the Otjituesu studs each lamb is 

 carefullv described under the lieadings shown hereunder (Fie 11^). 



Fig. 10. 



Specimen page from Lamh De.scriptioji Begister showing meihod in trhich 

 the lambs arc descrihed. 



Date of De=cri[)tion. 



1st September, 191P 

 Mouth: Good. 

 Nose: Slight roman. 



Ears: Large, covering with slight wave. 

 Covering of head : AVavy and glossy. 

 Covering of face : Wavy and glossy. 

 General appearance of head : Very good. 



Curl: Pipes, perpendicular, especially well defined on shoulders and lower neck. 

 Short curved pipes on flank and hind leg, few walnuts. 



Type of curl : Medium heavy A. 



Lustre: Very good. 



Quality: Good A, medium soft. 



Density : Good. 



Length : Very slightly on long side. 



Belly: Very fair medium. 



Covering of legs : Slight wav(^ and glossy. 



Tail: Good, rather long point. 



Bone: Good, well-built lamb. 



Class : 1st A special, medium heavy. 



Value : 



Remarks : Pipes very well defined and of various lengths and shapes. Entirely 

 free from any raggedness ; wet lustre ; best lamb dropped this season, etc. 



Mate G.K. 340 to " Nimrod." 



Mate S.W.A. 68 to " L. Russel" 1920. 



