592 



SHEEP 



Merino grade from large, roomy Merino ewes and a blocky, 

 vigorous Dorset ram will prove a surer breeder, if possible, than 

 the pure-bred Dorset ewe. There are not many growers of hot- 

 house lambs who do not prefer Dorset Horn grades from Merino 

 foundation to any other, the pure-bred not excepted. These 

 ewes are again bred to pure-bred Dorset Horn rams, and the result 

 is a very blocky, easily fattened lamb. These grade ewes are 

 also better milkers than the pure-breds. At Purdue University 



FIG. 277. A group of choice Dorset Horn ewes on pasture in Dorsetshire, Eng- 

 land. From a photograph by the late J. E. Wing, -by courtesy of Mrs. Wing 



especially fine results were secured from crossing a Dorset ram 

 on Rambouillet ewes, as compared with lambs from the same 

 kind of ewes sired by Shropshire and Rambouillet rams. The 

 Dorset crosses showed the heaviest weight and gave the best 

 dressing^ percentage, and the carcasses were thicker and showed 

 more finish than the others. 



The prolificacy of the Dorset Horn sheep is one of its out- 

 standing characteristics. This is manifested in two ways : one, 

 that the ewes naturally breed so as to lamb twice a year ; the 

 other that the ewes are especially prolific, even if lambing but 



