THE LEICESTER 



433 



and easier fattening quality than where Merino rams are used. 

 In France a type of Leicesters termed Dishley Merinos has 

 been developed by using Leicester rams on a Merino ewe foun- 

 dation, these sheep now showing little of Merino character. 

 Robert Taylor of Nebraska has used Leicester rams on middle- 

 wool ewes on the western range with signal success. In both 

 1903 and 1904 Mr. Taylor won the grand championship at the 

 International Live Stock Exposition on car-load show of lambs, 

 these being a cross of Leicester rams on grade Hampshire ewes. 

 In fact, it is conceded that 

 cross-bred Leicester mutton is 

 produced more economically, 

 matures earlier, and is of bet- 

 ter quality than the pure-bred, 

 although the size is somewhat 

 lessened. In this connection 

 it is interesting to note that 

 the Leicester as improved by 

 Bakewell has served a most 

 important part in improving 

 some of the British breeds in 

 the days of early development, 

 its blood being freely used on 

 the Southdown, Cotswold, 



FIG. 202. A very choice Border Leicester 

 ram bred by Mr. Smith of Leaston, 

 Scotland. Sold in 1901 for .122 

 ($600). Photograph from the owner, 

 J. R. C. Smith 



Lincoln, Shropshire, and 

 Hampshire foundations. 



The Leicester as a wool producer yields a fine grade of long 

 wool. Randall states that after the first shearing it will average 

 about 6 inches long and will weigh 6 pounds. Professor Shaw 

 states that the fleece should average from 9 to 1 1 pounds 

 weight, while the 1894 edition of the Complete Grazier, by Youatt, 

 places it at an average of 7 pounds. George Benedict of 

 Nebraska, a breeder of pure Leicesters, in 1893 wrote, "The 

 average weight of fleeces for ten years is n pounds." The 

 fleece of the Leicester being naturally fine and open weighs 

 comparatively light. If grade Leicester ewes are bred to middle- 

 or fine-wool rams, the fleece of the offspring is commonly finer, 

 more compact, and shears heavier than that of the pure-bred. 



