LECTURE NO. 10. 



SHROPSHIRE SHEEP THEIR ORIGIN AND HISTORY, 



CHARACTERISTICS AND STANDARD POINTS. 



ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. The Shropshire is a sheep composite in 

 character, the improvement of which has been chiefly 

 effected during the present century. 



(1) The original breed from which they are descended 

 were chiefly known as "Morfe Common" sheep, from an 

 extensive tract in Shropshire on which they fed, but 



(2) Some are the descendants of sheep that fed on Can- 

 nock Chase in Staffordshire and on Whittington Heath, and 



(3) The blood of all these strains now mingles in the 

 improved Shropshire. 



II. How improvement has been effected. 



(1) Improvement has been effected very largely through 

 crossing and selection, and also through better care and food. 



(2) The blood of the Southdown, Cotswold and Leicester 

 breeds has all been freely used in their improvement, but not 

 in a regular or settled order, although 



(3) Since the middle of the century but little outside 

 blood has been used, and for many years none at all. 



III. The breed while yet unimproved. 



(1) Originally the Shropshires were horned, had black 

 or brown or spotted faces, and were an active and hardy race. 



(2) They produced about two and one-half pounds of 

 wool per fleece, and about forty pounds of mutton to the 

 carcass. 



IV. The improvers of Shropshires. 



(1) Improvement was effected by a number of breeders 

 working simultaneously and not always in the same lines, 

 hence 



(2) The lack of uniformity in types which characterized 

 the breed for many years after improvement had commenced. 



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