SHEEP 



353 



The Tunis originated in northern Africa. They show con- 

 siderable variation in type ; although considered hornless horns 

 {r'ometimes occur; the head, face and legs are free from wool, 

 and covered with hair which varies in color from light yellowish 

 brown to dark brown or mottled. The ears are large and droop- 

 ing, and the tail is broad and fat ; they are medium in size. This 

 breed also excels in the production of early lambs, as they will 

 mate in the spring and drop lambs that can be marketed in the 

 winter when the demand is greatest. The rams are not so 

 desirable for grading 

 up a flock, as they are 

 somewhat lacking in 

 uniformity of type, with 

 a corresponding varia- 

 tion in i^repotency. 



Tlie Suffolk *^Down 

 originated in England. 

 The breed is iDolled. 

 The head, face and legs 

 are black; their fleece 

 is rather light Avitli a 

 tendenc}" to be kemjn'. 

 Suffolks are not so pop- 

 ular as some of the 

 other medium-Avool 

 breeds. 



There are several 

 other medium-Avool 

 breeds w^hich are of lit- 

 tle or no commercial im- 

 portance in America. 



Fig. ISO. 



(1 Karakul ram. Yearling. 



Pure brc 



m iunerica. Among them might be mentioned the 

 Welsh Mountain, the Eveland, the Exmoor Horn and the Kerry 

 Hill. 



Long-ivool breeds. — The three principal long-wool breeds in 

 America are the Lincoln, the Leicester and Cotswold. The other 

 and lesser known long-wool breeds of sheep are the Kent or 

 Komney Marsh, the Black-Faced Highland and the Karakul. 

 Long-wool sheep as the name implies have coarse, long wool, 

 which usually hangs in long ringlets; however, as it does not 

 contain much grease or yolk the average weight of a fleece from 

 the three principal breeds is only about nine to fourteen pounds. 

 Long-wools are very large sized. Mature rams in good condition 

 should average over three hundred pounds. Their open fleece 



