SHEEP AND GOATS 



609 



account of their ability to make mutton economically, although the wool- 

 producing ability of the mutton sheep constitutes no small part of their 

 value to the farmer. The wool type, however, is raised mainly for the wool 

 it produces. 



In conformation, the mutton sheep are compact, with a short head and 

 neck, a broad, level back, a full leg of mutton, a deep body and short legs. 

 The wool ranges in length from 2| inches in the middle-wools to 10 inches 

 in the long-wools. The fleece does not cover the body so compactly as 

 does the fleece of the fine-wool sheep. The medium-wool breeds greatly 



A Typical Shropshire. 1 



excel the long-wools in this respect. The fleece of the medium-wool breeds 

 is much less fine in quality and has much less yolk or oil in it than does the 

 fleece of the Merino sheep. 



LONG- WOOL BREEDS 



Leicester. — Very large sheep, wool 6 inches long at 12 months, being 

 bright and lustrous; face and legs white; no wool on head. Weight of 

 mature rams ranges from 225 to 250 pounds; ewes from 175 to 200 pounds. 



Cotswold. — Wool 8 inches long at 12 months; pronounced tuft of wool 

 on forehead; face and legs white. Rams weigh from 250 to 275 pounds; 

 ewes from 200 to 225 pounds. 



» Courtesy of The Field, New York City. 

 39 



