SHEEP 



571 



tion had recorded 234,000 animals in 

 1906. 



Hampshires — The Hampshire is a 

 hornless, black faced, black legged sheep. 

 Like the Southdown and Shropshire, it 

 originated in England and is the out- 

 come of a cross of the Improved South- 

 down upon the Wiltshire and Berkshire 

 Knot sheep. It is much larger than 

 the Southdown, more prolific, produces 

 a heavier fleece, and has better grazing 

 qualities. It is larger than the Shrop- 



The Hampshire Down Breeders asso- 

 ciation of America was organized in 

 1889. About 18,500 sheep have been 

 registered. ' 



Suffolks — This is a medium wool, 

 hornless, mutton breed, with a long, 

 black face, and a general absence of 

 wool on the head and between the ears, 

 which constitutes the principal difference 

 in appearance between the Suffolk and 

 Hampshire breeds. The body is rather 

 long, the legs jet black. The Suffolks 





"-"MM, 



Fig. 358 — 2-YEAR-OLD RAMBOUILLET EWE 



shire and the lambs grow more rapidly 

 to maturity. They are especially adapted 

 to an intense system of farming, and 

 for crossing where early, quick maturing 

 large sized lambs are desired. The un- 

 washed fleece will weigh from 7 to 10 

 pounds in the ewes and a little heavier 

 in the bucks. The wool corresponds to 

 that of the Shrortshire, but is perhaps a 

 little coarser. They are a stylish, hand- 

 some sheep of the mutton form, and are 

 quite widely distributed throughout the 

 United States and Canada. 



occupy an intermediate place between 

 the Shropshire and the Hampshire. 

 They have not been extensively bred in 

 the United States. The American Suf- 

 folk Begistry association has recorded 

 1,013 sheep. 



Oxfords—The Oxford Downs origi- 

 nated in England as a result of crossing 

 Cotswold rams upon Hampshire Down 

 ewes and the selection and mating of 

 the progeny. These sheep since 1857 have 

 been known as Oxfordshire Downs or 



