85 



Chest, wide and deep ; back, level, with a wide flat loin well 

 ribbed up ; ribs well sprung, and fore and hind flanks fully 

 developed. 



Rump, wide, long and well turned ; tail, large and set on almost 

 level with the chine ; legs of mutton (including thighs which should 

 be full) well let down, with a deep wide twist. 



The wool, of fine texture, great density and not too short in 

 the staple, covering the whole of the body down to the hocks and 

 knees, and right up to the cheeks, with a full foretop, but not round 

 the eyes nor across the bridge of the nose. The skin, of a 

 delicate bright pink. 



The legs, short, straight, of one even mouse colour and set on 

 well outside the body ; the carriage, " corky." 



Quality of Mutton and Wool. No breed surpasses the Southdown 

 for rapidity of feeding and early maturity. The carcases provide 

 the small neat joints demanded at the present time, the mutton is of 

 the highest quality and commands top prices in the markets. 

 Evidence as to the quality of carcase is afforded by the records of 

 the performances of the breed. 



At the Smithfield Show in the last ten years the .Championship 

 of all breeds in the classes for live sheep has on five occasions been 

 awarded to Southdown sheep. They have also been successful 

 in the Carcase Competition. In 1910 the Champion carcase was a 

 pure-bred Southdown, and in 1911 animals of the breed were 

 awarded first and second prizes for pure Short- Woolled Wethers. 

 Similar distinctions have been gained at the Chicago International 

 Exhibition. 



The wool is remarkably close and compact, of very fine texture 

 and quality, and realises the highest price for British wools. 



Value for Crossing. The Southdown when crossed with other 

 breeds readily transmits to its offspring its symmetry and fine 

 quality of mutton and wool. The rams have been used for crossing 

 with almost all breeds of British sheep and they have been exported 

 to practically every country in the world. At the Smithfield Show 



1911, the first, second, and third prizes for both cross-bred 



in 



Wethers and cross-bred Lambs in the Carcase Competitions were 

 secured by sheep sired by Southdown rams, and in the classes 

 for live cross-bred sheep the Cup and Reserve for Cup, as well as a 

 number of the leading prizes, were taken by animals similarly bred. 



Southdown Classes at the Smithfield Shoiv, 1902-11. 



