93 



THE RYELAND. 



The Ryeland breed is believed to be named from a poor sandy 

 district in the southern part of Herefordshire. 



Origin of the Breed. " It was originally a small but very hardy 

 white-faced, polled breed, with a light fleece of not more than 2 Ib. 

 of wool, growing close to and sometimes covering the eyes, but 

 possessed of a degree of fineness unequalled by any other British 

 breed," which, with a strong resemblance to the Merino, "led to 

 the supposition that the Ryeland was of foreign extraction." 

 Herbert, writing of the early times of sheep husbandry, said that 

 the Ryeland predominated through the Western Midlands, but that 

 in the course of time the breed was gradually displaced by a heavy 

 sheep over the greater part of the counties other than Hereford. 

 The Ryeland strongly resembled an early variety of the Shropshire, 

 not only in wool, but in "a striking similarity of form and 

 appearance." It is on record that " the Ryelands were also crossed, 

 and that to a very considerable extent, with Leicesters, but at great 

 sacrifice of the fineness of the wool." The main change in these 

 respects was brought about between 1800 and 1828. 



Characteristics of the Breed. Size and Avool-producing properties 

 have been introduced into the breed without materially injuring the 

 hardiness of the sheep or the quality of the mutton. It suffers 

 little from foot-rot, and thrives on tracts of cold, damp soil growing 

 inferior herbage. So much of the initial fine quality of the 

 wool has been maintained that it usually carries off the premier 

 prize in its class at the Royal Show, or it shares the honours with 

 the wool of the Dorset Horn Breed. The wool is of good deep 

 staple, and thickly set on the skin. 



The symmetry of the breed is excellent, and the handling 

 especially good at the junction of the neck with the trunk. The 

 white of the face and legs is dull, in place of the " china " white of 

 the Cheviot and Border Leicester. 



The Ryeland ram is an impressive sire, and is in favour for pro- 

 ducing fat lambs by Ryeland ewes as well as by ewes of other 

 breeds. Many flocks were replaced by the Shropshire and other 

 Down breeds, but the tendency in recent years is to an increase of 

 numbers, as may be gathered from the increase of flocks to over 

 100 from 30 in 1903. 



Well-bred Ryeland wethers at a year old average 70 to 80 Ib. 

 of carcase, old ewes up to 100 Ib. In a good flock the fleeces will 

 run about 5 or 6 Ib. though if the lambs are not shorn the average 

 may be about 8 11). 



Ryeland Classes at the Smith field Show, 1902-1911. 



