Live Stock. Sheep Hereford/hire Breed Defer ipt ion of. 



which have acquired an increafe in weight. And other varieties of it are met with 

 in feveral other diftrich. 



It is a breed that has been found to anfwer well in fome of the midland diftricls, 

 and, from its clofe make, to be equally advantageous with almoft any other. It is, 

 however, fuppofed capable of improvement by being eroded with rams of a larger 

 dze.* 



The HerefordJIiire breed of fheep is known by the want of horns, and having 

 white Jegs and faces ; by being fmall in fize ; and the wool growing clofe to the 

 eyes ; by the carcafe being pretty well formed ; and by the excellence of the mut 

 ton. Weight per quarter from iolbs. to i&lbs. Wool fine and fhort :-\ the lean 

 poor-fed fheep producing the fineft. The true breed of this fort of fheep is fre 

 quently denominated Ryelands. 



This breed is found to be remarkably patient of hunger but in its manage 

 ment requires cot ting in the winter feafon, and being fed with hay or peas-halm. 

 In fome cafes they are indeed houfed all the year round in the night-time. The 

 cots are low covered buildings, proportioned to the extent of the flocks. They arc 

 faid to fatten the bell at four years old. The Arcbenfeld or true Herefordfhire 

 breed produces the fined wool. And Mr. Knight remarks that the difpofition of 

 iheep to fatten in the north-weft part of that diftrict is in proportion to the fincnefs 

 of the wool ; but he is not certain of its being fo in this breed. But it feems to 

 him that where the wool is clofe and fine, there are many advantages ; lefs nourifh- 

 ment is drawn from the body in its fuppport than in the contrary cafe. The long 

 coarfe- wool led fleece admits the rain more freely, and by dividing on the back lets it 

 down to the fkin. It alfo takes in a larger weight of water,which mud more incon 

 venience the animal already heavily loaded. The fine clofe fleece of this breed 

 admits the water with difficulty, even when immerfed in it, in wadiing, and is ne 

 ver wet through by rain. On account of the clofenefs of the texture, it only 

 lodges on the outfide, and is eafily removed by the animal making itfelf. Befides, 

 a fleece of this kind is much more warm and light. On thefe grounds it is fuppof 

 ed, that no breed oflheep in theifland is capable of fubfifiing on fo fmall a pro 

 portion of food. 



By eroding this breed with the Difhley an ufeful kind of fheep has been produc- 



* Pitt s Survey of Stafford /hi re. I Culley on Live Stock. 



^ Knight in Communications to the Board, vol. II. ^ Culley on UVQ Stock. 



