Chapter XLIX. 



HORNED DORSETS. 



As far back as we have any record this breed of sheep has existed 

 in the shire of Dorset, England. From the fact that the old Dorset re- 

 sembled the old Spanish Merino, it has been thought that the former 

 may have descended from the latter. The resemblance, however, was 

 only in form and external appearance the properties of the two breeds 

 being entirely different. In this connection we quote Prof. Low (1842): 



"While the Merinos are bad nurses, the Dorsets are the most productive of milk of 

 any of our races of sheep. In the broad loins of this race we have the same external 

 character which, in the case of the cow, indicates the faculty of yielding abundant milk. 

 The remarkable fecundity of these sheep has given rise to the supposition that they are 

 derived from some warmer country where the females bring forth twice in the year. We 

 have, however no evidence of this fact, and may accordingly believe that the property is 

 one which is due to situation, although the peculiar circumstances, whether of climate or 

 food, which gave rise to it may escape our observation." 



The breed is not well known in America, but there are several breed- 

 ers of considerable prominence, both in the United States and Canada ; 

 and during the last five or six years they have pushed forward the 

 Dorset with great success. We do not know of any Dorsets in the 

 South, but see no reason why they would not prove of value, especially 

 in the higher portions of the Texas "Panhandle" region. 



DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS. 



Color of face and legs white ; head fine, rather long, and supplied 

 with horns in both male and female ; nose and lips black. The shoulders 

 are low but broad; chest deep, with low brisket; back straight, and loins 

 unusually broad and strong. The bone is light, and the legs rather 

 long, but the general make-up indicates good breeding and hardiness. 

 In size they are above medium fat two-year-old wethers reaching as 

 high as 230 to 250 Ibs., and mature breeding rams weighing 175 to 200 

 Ibs. The fleece is short, of above medium fineness, and high-class 

 flocks yield an average clip of six to eight pounds. The peculiar 

 characteristics which distinguish the Dorsets from all other sheep are 

 their early and prolific breeding, rapidity of fattening and early 

 maturity. They surpass all other breeds in general fecundity as a rule 

 breeding twice a year, and freqently bearing twins and triplets. For 

 the production of early market lambs no sheep can rival them, unless it 

 be the cross-bred produce of Southdown rams on Dorset ewes, which 

 have been most popular with English breeders. 



The illustration represents a group from Mr. Fuller's excellent 

 flock, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 



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