788 SHEEP INDUSTRY OP THE UNITED STATES 



In order to secure the desired result as speedily as possible many of 

 the sheepmen have invested in Downs or other mutton rams to cross 

 Avith the ewes, which have been bred so many years with a view to in- 

 crease the weight of wool. And from this cross an animal is produced 

 that generally meets the present requirements both as to wool and 

 mutton. Though this experiment is fairly satisfactory, yet this system 

 of breeding has only begun. The lambs are strong, vigorous, and 

 hungry from the start, and there is not so much difficulty in getting them 

 to suckle as with the Merinos. They seem to thrive on any kind of 

 range; the Down cross, however, requires considerable more feed than 

 the Merino or Mexican. Another favorite cross is the French- Spanish 

 cross-bred Merinos. Probably the most notable and extensive experi- 

 ment of this class in the State has been conducted by the Merino Stock 

 Farm Company of Elizabeth, Elbert County. The flock of this company 

 was established by Frank G. Willard in 1872, and consists of pure-bred 

 Merinos. The class of rams that has been used in the past were thor- 

 oughbreds from Vermont. The present company now makes a specialty 

 of the French-Merino ram, and thereby get greater size of frame and 

 carcass, better rustlers, and do not sacrifice the quantity or quality of 

 wool. The result of this cross on this particular flock produces a sheep 

 which, when mature, will weigh from 100 to 140 pounds gross, and shear 

 from 12 to 15 pounds of fine wool of good length of staple. This one 

 flock is a grand object lesson for the industry, and demonstrates its 

 possibilities in Colorado. 



The sheep now in the State of Colorado are mostly Merinos and their 

 grades. A large proportion of the sheep in southern Colorado trace 

 back to the Mexican base, and though this strain of blood is not es- 

 teemed highly by practical sheep-raisers, there is no reason for conceal- 

 ing the merits of the Mexican sheep, their adaptability to the climate, 

 the range, and to the pioneer methods of conducting the business. It 

 required but very little capital to get a start with sheep of this class, 

 and by using pure-bred Merino rams the flocks were soon graded up. 

 It is a well-known fact that the Mexican ewe, the base of many of the 

 early sheep of Colorado, was a hardy animal, an excellent traveler of 

 great endurance, and as a mother even excelled the best improved 

 sheep; and these good qualities she transmitted to her progeny. The 

 average Mexican ewe has a small body and long legs, with small wool 

 surface. There is little or no wool on the legs or bellies, and the fleece 

 is a sort of hairy wool of little value, but the Merino cross soon obliter- 

 ates the objectionable qualities. The good qualities of the Mexican ewe 

 were conveyed to the progeny of this cross in a marked degree, making 

 a very happy combination, which has helped the sheep industry to 

 attain its present success, and has added generally to the importance 

 of the animal industry of the mountain regions and arid plains. 



In connection with the preceding paragraph it must be remembered 

 that only a portion, and not all, the flocks are of the Mexican Merino 



