Dorset Horn Sheep. 7l 



lambs is competetl for, maiij' rams and ram lambs being sent 

 from the Isle of Wight and Somerset to compete. 



Fairs, Sales and Prices. 



The principal fairs for the sale of Dorset Horn Sheep are 

 held at Dorchester in May, July, August and September. The 

 September fair, known as Poundbury Fair, is principally for 

 in-lamb Dorset Horn ewes that have been put to Down rams, 

 and at this time of the year many can be seen with lambs 

 by their sides. About 10,000 of these sheep are penned at 

 this fair. Sales are also held in the spring and autumn at 

 Beaminster, Bridport, Crewkerne, Taunton, and at Newport 

 in the Isle of Wight. 



At the ram sales at Dorchester ram lambs fetch from 

 5 guineas to 30 guineas each, shearling rams from 8 guineas 

 to 35 guineas each. The draft ewes at the fairs make from 

 ■ils. to 60i\ each, according to quality, in a good season. 



The best flocks when dispersed often average from 70s. 

 to 80s. each. Fat lambs off the teat make from 35s. to 44s. 

 each in an average season. Foreign buyers give long prices 

 for the best Dorset Horn Sheep for exportation, and the best 

 shearling ewes will make from 10 to 15 guineas each, and 

 shearling rams and ram lambs from 25 guineas to 40 guineas 

 each. 



Weights and Early Maturity. 



The special and peculiar feature of the breed is that the 

 ewes come in season as early as April or May, and can breed 

 lamb for the Christmas Markets weighing from 10 to 12 lb. per 

 quarter at from ten to twelve weeks old ; the ewes, when fatted 

 off with the lamb, will weigh from 22 to 28 lb. per quarter. 

 Wether sheep when ripe weigh from 20 to 23 lb. per quarter. 

 In 1907 a pen of Dorset Horn wether lambs bred by Mr. 

 Charles Scutt, of Wyke Oliver, Weymouth, and exhibited by 

 him at the Smithfield Club Show at the age of eleven months 

 and three days, gave the following weights : — Live weight, 

 5 cwt. 3 qrs. 18 lb. the pen of three ; average daily gain, 

 0'63 lb. ; average weight of dressed carcass, 136 lb. ; average 

 percentage of carcass to gross live weight, 62*38 lb. Again, in 

 1908, a pen of wether lambs bred by Mr. C. Hawkins, of 

 Waddon, Dorchester, aged eleven months and fourteen days, 

 gave these results : — Live weight, 5 cwt. 3 qrs. ; average weight 

 of dressed carcass, 132 lb. ; average percentage of carcass to 

 gross live weight, 61*68 lb. ; average weight of skins, 16 lb. ; 

 average weight of loose fat, 15 lb. ; average daily gain of live 

 weight, 0*62 lb. These sheep were purchased by Messrs. 

 Polgate & Son, who stated that they were full of lean flesh and 

 very fine meat. At the Smithfield Club Show this year 



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