PART III. SHEEP 

 CHAPTER XLIII 



THE MERINO, OR FINE-WOOL TYPE OF SHEEP 



The Merino involves several families, and all sheep of this 

 group are known as fine wools, producing the finest of fiber used 

 in the woolen trade. 



The general conformation of the Merino as commonly seen may 

 be compared to the dairy cow. The body lacks fullness of chest, 

 breadth of back, and general thickness all through, the leg of 

 mutton is not thick and full, and the neck and legs tend to be 

 long. A muscular development of the entire body prevails rather 

 than smoothness and heavy fleshing. The wool is somewhat short 

 of staple, is thick over the entire body, and is remarkably fine 

 in quality. An oily secretion, commonly known as yolk, 1 found 

 on all sheep, exudes from glands at the base of the wool fiber 

 and gradually passes up the wool to the tip. Some sheep possess 

 much more yolk than others, notably Merinos of the A type with 

 heavy folds. This yolk accumulates dust and dirt on the exterior 

 of the fleece, forming a dark, dirty covering. There are excep- 

 tions, however, with the smooth-bodied Merinos, some showing 

 but little external yolk. 



Three classes or types of Merino sheep are recognized to-day 

 by men who are familiar with this breed. The first attempt "at 

 classification occurred early in the nineties, when at the World's 

 Columbian Exposition at Chicago the Merinos were placed in 

 three classes, namely, A, B, and C, based on the amount of folds 

 or wrinkles shown, especially on the neck, body, and hind quarters. 

 Since this time the Merinos at the Ohio State Fair, which is 



1 The word " yolk " is used by the best authorities in referring to the natural oil 

 of the fleece, but the words " grease " or " oil " are also made frequent use of 

 among American breeders. 



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