CHAPTER XII 

 THE MUTTON BREEDS OF SHEEP 



SHEEP in this group vary considerably in the matter of 

 scale but are all of the block form already described in 

 reference to the beef cattle. However, the leg of mutton 

 in the sheep carcass has a greater proportionate value 

 than the round of the beef carcass, so that this region 

 in addition to the back and loin receives special considera- 

 tion from the sheep judge. 



SOUTHDOWN SHEEP. Figs. 65, 66. 

 By //. P. Miller 



375. The name Southdown as applied to sheep arose 

 from the use of the term in referring to the low range of 

 chalk hills in southeastern England, in Sussex county, 

 where the breed was developed. The date at which it 

 was first used is not known, but in 1794, Arthur Young, 

 in an essay, brought the breed into prominence. The 

 breed ranks in the first place for mutton-production. 



376. History in England. The Southdown breed 

 was developed through selection from the native Sussex 

 sheep on the chalky downs of southeastern England. 

 The native sheep were small, ill-shaped and coarse-wooled. 

 About 1780 or earlier, John Ellman, doubtless taking in- 

 spiration from the success of Bakewell with the Leicester, 



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