DOWN AND HORN BREEDS. 39 



THE SUFFOLK. 



The Suffolk breed, which resulted from crossing the old Norfolk 

 Horned and the Southdown, has made wonderful strides in the 

 past quarter of a century. It was not until 1886 that the Royal 

 Agricultural Society recognised its value as a distinct breed and 

 provided separate classes for it ; the type of sheep has considerably 

 altered in the hands of the undoubtedly skilled breed makers 

 who have steered its course. At the present time it stands first 

 in mutton points among the larger breeds, as indicated by repeated 

 successes in carcase competitions. Its whole appearance is sugges- 

 tive of " quality," and it provides an excellent example of the 

 fact that head-covering and face -covering with wool are not 

 necessary ; moreover, the clean head, associated with the high 

 class of the meat, the high average increase daily in weight, and 

 the vastly improved wool, show conclusively that head-covering, even 

 in other breeds in which the Southdown has played an important 

 part, when carried to excess is not warranted. It would have been 

 quite easy for the head-covering to be developed on the Suffolk, 

 but the breed makers thought better of it, and have gained all 

 their points without it. They have a breed which does not run 

 to excessive fat, as they avoided that form of selection which is 

 conducive to fat and wool at the expense of the lean meat. 



The Suffolk is a most prolific mother, with a heavy flow of milk ; 

 consequently the number of lambs reared and weaned is very 

 big. It is hardy and active, and a good forager ; it is the least 

 liable to foot-rot of any Down breed. The horns, so marked 

 in the old Norfolk, have been bred out. It crosses well with many 

 breeds, and in association with the Cheviot makes excellent 

 mutton, as carcase competitions evince. On the whole, it is 

 better suited as a pure breed to dry lair and a dry climate than 

 to the wetter and colder ; it is raised in the driest climate in the 

 kingdom. Still considerable numbers cross the Scottish Border 

 and some are found in Ireland. If the Suffolk suffers at any point 

 it is in its narrow breeding, the Norfolk and the Southdown being 

 mainly responsible for its formation, and, as such, it is not a typically 

 wet climate sheep nor at its best on heavy land. 



The Suffolk, however, is both a grass and arable breed. It 

 is accustomed to graze on poor heaths and also on rich marsh 

 lands ; but it can do extremely well as a wholly arable sheep. 

 Crossed with the Cheviot, an exceptionally valuable sheep results ; 

 and one can scarcely expect that, with this knowledge, breed 

 makers in some parts of the country will not fix a type composed 

 of these two breeds, for it would be very valuable and would adapt 

 itself to a great variety of soils and climates. 



The fecundity of the breed is very great, a^lamb and a-half 



