THE RAMBOUILLET 529 



stock. This gives a larger, better mutton type, with a strong con- 

 stitution, and at the same time increases the fleece value. Not 

 only this, but the smooth-bodied grade is more in favor with 

 the shearer on the range than the smaller, more wrinkled sort,- - 

 At the South Dakota Station rams of six breeds were crossed 

 on grade Western ewes. Fifty-three lambs sired by a Rambouillet 

 ram made an average daily gain of .31 pound, while the carcass 

 dressed out 54.2 per cent, the best of the six lots. 



The breeding qualities of the Rambouillet rank well. For 

 twelve years preceding 1881 Bernardin, then in charge of the gov- 

 ernment flock in France, reports that 4005 ewes were reserved for 

 breeders, of which 83.1 per cent were productive, the 83.1 ewes 

 dropping 92 lambs, including twins. Professor Coffey rates the 

 ewes as fairly prolific and credits them in the flock with 125 

 to 150 per cent lambs. In the author's experience with the 

 Rambouillet, covering ten years, the ewes are prolific breeders, 

 frequently dropping twins, and are unusually good mothers, 

 having large udders and producing much milk. One objection 

 to some of the ewes is too large a teat. The udders average 

 larger than with any other breed of sheep. Owing to their natural 

 vigor the ewes breed to a ripe old age. 



The hardy quality of the Rambouillet is worthy of note. 

 Formerly, when the French Merino was introduced, many found 

 it unsuited to American conditions. The last quarter of a century, 

 however, has shown that the Rambouillet has excellent wearing 

 qualities, certainly surpassing the mutton breeds. In winter the 

 writer has found them comparatively free from catarrh, while 

 in summer on the same pasture with sheep badly suffering with 

 stomach worms the Rambouillet showed a relatively greater re- 

 sistance to these parasites. 



The early maturity of the Rambouillet from the standpoint 

 of Merino development is very exceptional. The lambs commonly 

 weigh 8 to 10 pounds at birth, come on rapidly with good care, 

 and compare favorably with the best mutton breeds. In an edi- 

 torial note in the American Sheep Breeder relative to Rambouillet 

 lambs sold by W. S. Hansen at the Salt Lake sale in August, 

 1918, it is stated that March lambs in August weighed 115 to 

 120 pounds, remarkable weights for such young lambs. 



