280 



Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



a type that contrasts with mutton type as strongly as dairy cattle 

 contrast with beef cattle. 



Other breeders of fine-wool sheep did not entirely ignore the 

 mutton qualities of their animals, but placed some emphasis upon a 

 good conformation and a reasonable degree of fleshing; at the same 

 time they gave most attention to the weight and quality of fleece. 

 Eff"orts of this kind in America resulted in the creation of what is known 

 as the Delaine type of the American Merino; in France similar efforts 

 resulted in the breed known as the French Merino or Rambouillet. 

 Thus a type was established having better mutton qualities, a smoother 



Fig. 101. — Class A Merino ram. 



skin, a fleece of greater length and uniformity, and a type that is shorn 

 much more easily because of its freedom from wrinkles. Broadly 

 speaking, however, the differences mentioned in the ideals of breeders 

 of fine-wool sheep have not resulted in enough variation in type to 

 prevent a satisfactory study of fine-wool sheep as a single group or 

 type. 



The general appearance of the fine-wool sheep is very distinctive. 

 In a general way, the conformation resembles that of the dairy cow. 

 There is the same narrowness of forequarters and moderate width of 

 back and body, the same muscular rather than fleshy covering, and the 

 same tendency to be somewhat rangy of body and long of leg. As 



