ADAPTABILITY 33 



Combining Mutton and Wool. Combining mutton and wool 

 qualities became a problem after mutton attained importance. 

 Obviously this problem did not arise at the same time in all the 

 large sheep-growing countries because mutton did not become im- 

 portant in all of these countries at the same time. For example, 

 Australia and New Zealand had comparatively little demand for 

 mutton until the inception of ship refrigeration in 1882 permitted 

 them, to engage in the exportation of frozen carcasses. And in 

 the United States, the West had little use for mutton sheep until 

 transportation facilities were developed so that the live sheep could 

 be sent to the large central markets. 



Until Bakewell began mutton improvement, he was disposed to 

 give the wool no attention. Perhaps the size of his task in the field 

 of mutton betterment justified him in this attitude, but his suc- 

 cessors saw the folly of it if continued, and hence they did not fail 

 to give wool attention commensurate with its importance. 



When the production of mutton became profitable in the newer 

 sheep countries such as North America, South America, and Aus- 

 tralia, there was a sheep stock that had been maintained primarily 

 for its wool, and the wool from this stock was still too valuable to 

 be altogether disregarded. Under such conditions the real prob- 

 lem of combining mutton and wool qualities began. Crossing wool 

 breeds with mutton breeds was the first step, and with a few ex- 

 ceptions progress has not gone much further than this. In New 

 Zealand a new type has been fixed from crosses between Merinos 

 and the English long-wool mutton breeds. In the United States 

 progress has been made in improving the mutton qualities of some 

 of the wool breeds. 



A desirable combination of mutton and wool is still a large 

 breeding problem on the ranges of the United States. As yet a 

 type possessing what is desired in wool and mutton properties, 

 together with certain other characteristics, has not been fixed, but 

 the Federal government is directing work along this line. 



Adaptability. Adaptability always has been, and without doubt 

 always will be a problem in sheep breeding. When sheep were in 

 a wild state their adaptability was measured by their ability to live 

 and procreate their kind. When they came under domestication 

 they had to be able, with the aid of man's protection, not only to 

 live and procreate but also to produce something which man de- 

 sired. Moreover, they had to produce the thing he wanted at a 

 3 



