THE MERINO, OR FINE-WOOL TYPE OF SHEEP 483 



the neck, breast, and hind quarters should be pronounced, though 

 lighter than in the A type. The fleece also is somewhat longer, 

 easily surpassing an inch and a half, and contains less yolk than 

 A. The B type usually has somewhat more scale and carries 

 more natural flesh and some less weight of fleece than A. 



The C type Merino has a smooth body, with no folds unless 

 to a slight extent at the neck or breast. A model example should 

 be free of all folds. The Delaines and plain-bodied Rambouillets 

 represent this type. These have a fleece with less yolk and weight 

 than B, though with increased length of staple. The C type also 

 should be somewhat larger than B and approach nearer to true 

 mutton type, while the fleece retains its typical fine-wool char- 

 acter. Individuals of this type have been exhibited at our fairs 

 that in mutton form compared well with the best of Southdowns 

 or Shropshires. This type is discussed in detail in Chapter XLV, 

 on the Delaine Merino. 



The breeding of the three types of Merinos is conducted in 

 some of the best American flocks. One man may keep sheep of 

 each type and use them to improve or maintain his flock or to 

 satisfy demands of different customers. Type A rams offer a 

 medium for imparting to flocks in which B type ewes predominate 

 a denser, heavier-weighing fleece, though naturally lowering the 

 mutton value. The B type meets with a special demand as a 

 medium for producing more scale and substance in the A type 

 and increasing density and weight of fleece in the C type. The 

 demand for the A type is very restricted and is steadily growing 

 more so, but the B type, judiciously bred, meets a real need in 

 the Merino world. 



The line of demarkation in Merino type is not entirely agreed 

 to among breeders. In the great shows of the different types 

 at the Ohio State Fair it is not uncommon to see sheep of two 

 types in one class ; as, for example, A and B, or B and C. In 

 such cases the judge, as a rule, ignores the sheep that is off type. 

 Merino lambs often show a strong marking of folds, so that they 

 might naturally be placed in one class, but with a year or so of 

 growth these folds are outgrown to some extent, thereby justifying 

 reclassification as another type. In recent years some Merino 

 breeders who have been careful students have discussed different 



