344 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



long, inclines to be coarse and open, and usually does not 

 shear much above 7 pounds with 12 months' growth. 



Hampshires have long been popular for early or spring 

 lambs, which are regarded as excellent quality. This breed of 

 sheep has grown greatly in favor during the past few years, 

 and large importations have been brought to the United 

 States. On the western range lambs sired by Hampshire 

 rams and out of ewes with some Merino blood are quite 

 popular. Early lambs of this cross are also valued in the 

 eastern market. This breed requires fertile pastures and 

 plenty of feed in order to do well. Hampshires are widely 

 distributed in North and South America, in Europe and 

 Australia. In the United States, important flocks are kept 

 in the northern states east of the Mississippi, especially in 

 Pennsylvania, Kentucky, New York, and Michigan, and in 

 the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast states. Idaho leads. 



The Dorset Horn sheep receives its name from the 

 county of Dorset, in southern England, where it has long 

 been bred. It is an improved form of two native, horned, 

 white-faced breeds found in Dorset and Somerset counties. 

 The modern Dorset Horn belongs to the middle-wool class, 

 and is of medium to large size, rams weighing about 225 

 pounds and ewes 165. Both sexes have horns, those of the 

 ram at maturity being large and having spiral turns, while 

 those of the ewes are small, and bend in a simple curve 

 around toward the face. The head, ears, and legs have a 

 covering of white hair, and the nostrils are of flesh color. 

 The neck is often short, the back wide, and the body of large 

 capacity, with a fair leg of mutton. Dorsets are popular as 

 lambs, and for mutton, although the quality of the mutton 

 is not of the best. The lambs feed well and lay on flesh 

 rapidly. As wool producers, this is a breed that should do 

 better. The fleece, which grades as three-eighths or quarter- 

 blood, tends to be short and the weight light, ranging around 

 6 pounds for average animals. These sheep were first 



