SHEEP 



353 



The. American Merinos produce the finest and heaviest 

 fleece of any breed of sheep. They are small in size, and 

 do not produce a high quality of mutton. Their bodies 

 are covered with large folds of skin. These wrinkles are 

 an inconvenience in shearing. They are not very prolific. 

 The average number of lambs raised for each hundred 

 ewes is very low. The heavy wool growth seems to 

 make too heavy demands for the best reproduction. 



FIG. 182. Shropshire ewe FIG. 183. Shropshire ram 



Several types of Delaine Merinos have been developed 

 in efforts to correct the faults of the American Merino. 

 The Delaines are larger and produce a better quality of 

 mutton. They do not have so many wrinkles and >are more 

 prolific, but their wool is not so good. 



Rambouillets were developed in France. They are 

 the largest Merinos and the best ones for mutton, although 

 they do not rank with the mutton breeds. They are very 

 hardy and are popular on western ranges. 



Shropshires are one of the most popular of the mutton 

 breeds. They have nearly black faces and legs, and are 

 hornless. They are especially noted for their prolificacy. 



