OFFICIAL STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE FOR SHEEP 141 



BLACK TOP SPANISH MERINO. 



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SCALE OF POINTS. BLACK TOP SPANISH MERINO SHEEP 



REGISTER, VOL. Ill, 1891. (J 



Blood Purely bred from the Humphrey importation of 

 Merino sheep from Spain, in the year 1802, as bred by 

 W. R. Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio ................ 



Constitution Indicated by physical development; deep and 

 large in the breast and through the heart; broad back; 

 very heavy square quarters; skin of fine texture, and 

 pinkish in color; expansive nostril; brilliant eye; health- 

 ful countenance and good feeders ...................... 15 



Size In good condition, with fleece of five months growth, 

 full grown rams should weigh not less than 175 pounds, 

 and ewes not less than 120 pounds ..................... 12 



General Appearance Head carried well up; standing square- 

 ly on feet and legs; well rounded body, showing in all 

 points symmetry of form ............................... 3 



Body Throughout heavy boned; well proportioned in length; 

 smooth joints; ribs starting horizontally from the back 

 bone, and well around to breast bone; breast bone wide, 

 strong and prominent in front; strong, straight and heavy 

 back bone; heavy muscular quarters, deep through and 

 squarely formed before and behind; shoulders broad and 

 flat, and not projecting sharply above the back bone, 

 muscles firm and heavy, and body entirely free from folds. 

 There may be a slight throatiness, and a small dewlap 

 smaller on the ewes than en the rams ................ 15 



Head Wide, medium in length, eyes clear and bright, prom- 

 inent ears, medium in size and covered with soft fur. 

 Ewes should give no appearance of horns, while upon the 

 rams 1 the horns should be well developed, clear in color, 

 and symmetrically curved, without tendency to extreme 

 expansion .......................................... 5 



Neck Medium in length and very heavy, especially with the 

 rams, deepening towards the shoulder .......... . ..... 4 



Legs a^nd Feet Legs medium in length, set well apart, medi- 

 um bone and smooth joints. The feet must be well 

 shaped, medium sized, firm and solid .................. 10 



Covering Evenness of fleece and crimp; body and legs cov- 

 ered to the knees; head covered forward between the 

 eyes; the surface should be free from hair or gare ____ 8 



Quality Medium or fine, such as is known in the market as 

 fine delaine ........................................... 7 



Density Shown by compactness of fleece, which should 

 open freely, and have no tendency to be stringy or knotty 7 



Length At twelve months, growth must be not less than 

 three inches, and as near as may be of uniform length.. 8 



Oil Evenly distributed, white, soft and flowing freely from 

 skin to surface, forming on the exterior a uniform dark 

 coating .............................................. 6 



Total.. ..100 



