360 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



442. Uses of Cotswold sheep. The Cotswold is a 

 fair mutton sheep, giving a big carcass of strong mut- 

 ton, very popular in the mining districts of England. 

 It has not been so popular in America for mutton, 

 except the lambs. The abundance of external fat is 

 against it. In America it has been used for crossing 

 on Merino and native sheep, the produce being a 

 lamb of the mutton type, quick-feeding and hardy, 

 weighing 120 to 140 pounds at a year old and carry- 

 ing fair fleece. For wool, the breed has always been 

 celebrated, giving a heavy fleece of strong combing 

 wool, weighing sixteen to eighteen pounds per fleece 

 in the best specimens. The staple should average ten 

 inches in length, and frequently exceeds this. The half- 

 bred lambs yield a large fleece, giving much profit to 

 the wool-grower. 



443. Distribution. The Cotswold has become wide- 

 spread in America. The largest number of breeders are 

 in Ontario, although there are many flocks in the other 

 provinces of Canada. In New York, there are good flocks. 

 Going westward, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa 

 and Wisconsin stand in the order named for number of 

 breeders, but all are exceeded by Oregon, which has the 

 largest number of any state in the Union. There are 

 large flocks in Utah, and many half-breeds in Montana 

 and other sections of the West. Kentucky at one time 

 had large flocks, and the blood there is still in evidence, 

 but they have not been kept on record. In England, the 

 Cotswold is most popular in its native county of Gloucester 

 and neighboring counties. It has been exported to Russia, 

 Germany and France, on the continent, and to Australia 

 and New Zealand, as well as to many parts of North 

 America. 



