114 THE SHROPSHIRE 



breeders has done a more significant thing than this in its bearing 

 on uniformity of type (Fig. 70). 



Recognition as a Breed. Shropshires were first exhibited at 

 the Eoyal Show of England in 1845, but no class was made for them 

 at that time. In 1853 they were placed in a special class for short- 

 wooled sheep, not Southdowns, and they were given a class of their 

 own in 1859, which was the firsftime that any of the short-wooled 

 breeds broke up the classification, " Short-wooled sheep which are 

 not Southdowns,' 7 Their rapid rise in prominence at the shows can 



FIG. 70. Shropshire ewe. Bred by T. S. Minton, England, and exhibited by J. C. 

 Andrew, West Point, Indiana. Female champion of the breed at the International Live 

 Stock Show, Chicago, 1916. The extension white of wool over the face and legs, the turn 

 of the neck, smoothly set high on the shoulders, and the rounding line of the body are 

 desirable. 



be appreciated by a statement of the entries at the Royal Show in 

 1884. At Shrewsbury, the center of the home of the breed, 875 

 Shropshires from fifteen counties were on exhibition, while the total 

 of all other breeds was 420. This exhibit further stimulated home 

 breeding and created a strong foreign demand. 



Description. The Shropshire is the result of great skill and 

 judgment on the part of breeders during the past sixty years and it 



