12 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Shropshire is an early-maturing and prolific breed. In size it is medium. 

 The wool is of good quality and weight, the yield being above the average of the 

 medium-wool led breeds. In the past the breed has been faulted for being light in 

 the hind-quarters and for black fibre and dark spots on the skin occasionally crop- 

 ping out. These faults are now being eliminated. The head and face of the pure- 

 bred Shropshire should be well covered with wool, the eyes being almost hidden in 

 the fleece. 



THE OXFORD DOWN. 



This splendid breed was developed by crossing Cotswold rams on Hampshire 

 ewes. Some Southdown blood is also said to have been used. The place of their 

 origin was Oxford County, England. At first there was a great lack of uniformity 

 in the breed, as was natural in cross-breeds. Very soon, however, the breed took on 

 a distinct type. The modern Oxford is known wherever sheep are extensively used. 

 The Oxford and Hampshire are the largest of the medimn-woolled breeds. The 

 Oxford fleece is long and heavy, due to Cotswold foundation. Oxford rams are 

 popular on the range, producing large lambs from the small-range ewes. The Oxford, 

 being large, is not a short-pasture breed, and must have abundant pasture to thrive 

 well. In early-maturing qualities and prolificacy it is about the average. Too open 

 fleeces, dark spots on the skin, and occasional black fibre must be watched for and 

 eliminated from Oxford flocks. The head should be well covered with wool over 

 the poll, cheeks, and down to the eyes. Colour of face is an even dark grey or 

 brown, either with or without a grey spot on tip of nose. 



THE HAMPSHIRE DOWN. 



The native home of this breed is in the county of the same name in Southern 

 England. In the time of the Roman occupation the woollen-mills established at 

 Winchester were supplied with wool from a large breed of horned sheep, the 

 ancestors of the modern Hampshire, which owes its improvement to the effect of 

 crossing the improved Southdown on the old Berkshire Knots and Wiltshire sheep. 

 The Southdown cross reduced the size, but this was offset by breeding from the 

 largest individuals. The modern Hampshire is next in size to the Oxford among 

 the medium- woolled breeds. There is very little difference in the size and weights 

 of these two breeds. Only two other breeds are larger namely, the Cotswold and 

 Lincoln in the long-woolled class. The Hampshire, like the Oxford, requires good 

 care and plenty of feed to thrive well. The same may be said of all the larger 

 breeds. Hampshires kept on scant and rocky pasture will alter in type and become 

 " weedy," smaller, and " leggier." Hampshire rams are quite widely used for cross- 

 ing on the range flocks of America. The lambs are large, rapid growers, and early- 

 maturing. The rams are sometimes used for siring " hothouse " lambs. The breed 

 is noted for its early-maturing qualities under favourable conditions. It is also 

 quite prolific. 



The fleece is on the light side, and this breed does not shear as well as the 

 Oxford. 



The Hampshire head is quite characteristic. The ears are large, long, and some- 

 what pointed, and stand out almost at right angles with the head. The face is 

 black, and they have a Roman nose. The cheeks and forehead should be well 

 covered with wool. 



THE SUFFOLK DOWN. 



This breed is not very old. It originated in Norfolk and Suffolk Counties by 

 crossing Southdown rams on ewes of the old Norfolk breed, which were horned. 

 One good point about the old breed which has been transmitted was that they were 

 very prolific. The Southdown cross improved the mutton qualities and removed 

 the horns. The Suffolk mutton is famed for its excellent quality and high dressing 

 percentage, ranking with that of the Southdown. In South America Suffolk rams 

 are very popular for crossing on Merino ewes for mutton purposes. In fecundity 



