246 



TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



of Merino sheep in America willingly sacrificed the meat -producing 

 qualities of their flocks in order that the production of wool might 

 be made as large as possible. These breeders developed what was 

 formerly known as the Vermont Merino, a type that contrasts with 

 mutton type as strongly as dairy cattle contrast with beef cattle. 

 Other breeders of fine-wooled sheep did not entirely ignore 

 the mutton qualities of their animals, but placed some emphasis 

 upon a good conformation and a reasonable degree of fleshing; 

 at the same time they gave most attention to the weight and 

 quality of fleece. Efforts of this kind in America resulted in 



Fig. 75. Class A Merino Ram. 



the creation of what is known as the Delaine type of the Amer- 

 ican Merino; in France similar efforts resulted in the breed 

 known as the French Merino or Rambouillet. Thus a type 

 was established having better mutton qualities, a smoother skin, 

 a fleece of greater length and uniformity, and a type that is shorn 

 much more easily because of its freedom from wrinkles. Broadly 

 speaking, however, the differences mentioned in the ideals of 

 breeders of fine-wooled sheep have not resulted in enough varia- 

 tion in type to prevent a satisfactory study of fine-wooled sheep 

 as a single group or type. 



