144 THE DORSET HORN 



for feed, and in order to look well, must be fed rather liberally. 

 Especially is this true when the ewes have lambs at side, because 

 they yield too much milk for their food requirements to be ignored. 



Modern Dorset Horns are famous for their habit of breeding 

 earlier than any other of the improved mutton breeds. They have a 

 comparatively large number of twins and it is possible to get two 

 crops of lambs from them within twelve months. This habit was 

 peculiar to the old stock and was made use of during the first part 

 of the nineteenth century in the production of what was then known 

 as house lambs. Being disposed to breed early and to grow their 

 lambs rapidly, the ewes are unsurpassed as producers of lambs for 

 special seasons. When they are bred to Southdown rams the lambs 

 are the very best to be had for marketing when young to an ex- 

 clusive out-of-season trade. The Dorset Horn-Delaine Merino 

 Cross is said to produce a capital farm flock ewe, the fleece being 

 heavier than that of pure Dorset Horn and the breeding and milk- 

 ing powers almost as well developed (Fig. 96). 



Distribution. Chiefly on account of their light shearing qual- 

 ities, Dorset Horns have not become widely distributed. In Eng- 

 land there are not many flocks outside the native home of the breed. 

 Of the other countries, the United States and Canada probably 

 lead in the number of flocks. The Dorset Horn Sheep Breeders' 

 Association, of England, published its first flock book in 1892. In 

 1891 the Dorset Horn Sheep Breeders of America organized, but a 

 disagreement among the members in 1897 resulted in a second and 

 presumably rival organization known as the Continental Dorset 

 Club. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Where was the Dorset Horn developed? 



2. Is it a lowland, upland, or mountain breed? 



3. State the desirable and undesirable characteristics of the old stock from 



which the Dorset Horn came. 



4. Under what conditions would you consider the Dorset Horn one of the 



best breeds to raise ? 



5. Would you consider Dorset Horns better able to defend themselves 



against dogs than Southdowns? 



6. Which would grade higher on the open market, Dorset Horns or South- 



downs ? 



7. Do you think it would be advisable to raise two crops of lambs from 



Dorset Horn ewes in one year? 



