Sheep 



401 



and are somewhat larger than those of the other two classes, 

 and have slightly longer and coarser wool and more of the 

 mutton form. Some authorities make the Delaine Merinos 

 a separate breed. 



Rambouillet. The animals of the Rambouillet breed (Fig. 

 178) are larger than those of the other fine-wool sheep, the 

 rams weighing from one hundred seventy-five to one hundred 

 eighty pounds and the ewes from one hundred forty to one 

 hundred eighty pounds. 

 Although the sheep are 

 rather upstanding, the 

 form approaches that 

 of the mutton type and 

 the animals produce a 

 good quality of mutton 

 as well as fine wool. 

 The head is larger than 

 in the Merinos and is 

 wooled well down on 

 the nose. The wool is 

 about three inches long 

 and the fleece com- 

 pletely covers the body. 



201. Feeds for sheep. 

 Sheep are capable of 

 digesting large quantities of roughage, but they should have 

 concentrates in addition. Excellent roughages for sheep are 

 the leguminous hays from alfalfa, red clover, alsike clover, or 

 cowpeas. Corn stover, straws, and hays from some of the 

 grasses are often fed to sheep, but they are inferior to the 

 leguminous hays. Timothy or millet hays should not be fed to 

 sheep. The former causes constipation and the latter, scours. 



Pasturage is the important feed for sheep. They are natu- 

 rally grazing animals and, like all animals that chew their cud, 

 require abundant succulent feed. Permanent pastures of 



2D 



FIG. 178. Rambouillet ewe. 



