CHAPTER XXXIX. 



JUDGING THE MUTTON MERINO OR CLASS TYPE. 



The modern trend in breeding Merino sheep, is to pro- 

 duce the smooth-bodied type, free of folds, excepting in 

 slight degree on the neck. Years ago Merino breeders, 

 especially in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, rec- 

 ognized that they must produce a type of sheep that would 

 have mutton as well as wool values. In consequence of 

 this feeling, breeders began to select breeding stock that 

 was rather free of folds, with a tendency to carry consid- 

 erable flesh. This resulted in establishing what is generally 

 known as the Delaine Merino. It is the common type of 

 smooth-bodied Merino seen in America, and, while produc- 

 ing a fine or Merino wool, also makes a most excellent 

 carcass. While not technically a Delaine, the Rambouillet 

 is to all intents and purposes of this class. In fact, on one 

 occasion at the Ohio State Fair, several Rambouillet ewes 

 of German breeding were exhibited in a Delaine class by 

 one of the best-known American Rambouillet breeders. 

 This was not entirely satisfactory to all concerned, but that 

 such a thing were possible shows that the Rambouillet 

 breeder expected his sheep to be judged on a Delaine basis. 

 A world movement toward the smooth-bodied, Delaine type 

 of fine-wooled sheep is now taking place, for two very dis- 

 tinct reasons, one being the greatly increased demand for 

 mutton as well as fleece, the other the difficulty in shear- 

 ing sheep of the A type with heavy folds. Even in Aus- 

 tralia, long the home of the wrinkly Merino of extreme de- 

 velopment, the class C sheep is coming into great popu- 

 larity. 



420 



