426 JUDGING SHEEP 



dual purpose sheep, both its wool and mutton commanding 

 good prices. The average weight of the fleece is from ten 

 to twelve pounds. The wool is medium in quality, strong 

 but rather light in yolk. The average length is something 

 over three inches. The breed is hornless and the face, ears 

 and legs are white as in the foundation stock from which the 

 breed developed. 



Rare Breeds in the United States. As has been the rule in 

 England and Scotland especially, numerous breeds or types 

 of live stock have been developed with special reference 

 to their adaptation to sections or local conditions. This 

 local development has been especially emphasized in sheep. 

 Among some of these breeds are the Ryeland, Exmoor, 

 Wensleydale, Devon Long Wool, Herdwick, Lonk, Black 

 Faced Highland and several others. 



While some of these breeds are quite widely distributed 

 and popular in their native homes, they have not been 

 imported or distributed to any appreciable extent. 



In addition to these breeds, there may be mentioned the 

 Karakul which is a fur producing breed. The value of the 

 breed lies principally in the skins which are taken from the 

 young lambs which is known as Persian or Astrakhan fur. 

 Rams of this breed are crossed with the Merino, Lincoln, 

 Leicester, Cotswold and Cheviot, the best results having 

 been obtained by crossing on the long wools. The breed 

 is very rare and because of difficulty in breeding high class 

 fur in the lambs it has not become widely disseminated. 



Breeding and Class Characteristics. From the standpoint 

 of the stockman sheep may be divided into breeding, fat, 

 and feeder classes. The first includes pure breds of the 

 various breeds, their grades and crosses. The second 

 class includes fat sheep and lambs, and the third feeder 

 sheep. 



Breeding Classes. In selecting sheep for breeding purposes 

 whether pure bred or grade, special attention should be 

 given to age, weight, health, quality, constitution, and con- 

 dition. These subjects have been fully treated only from 

 the standpoint of the pure-bred and fat sheep, and the 

 application of the points mentioned here is therefore neces- 



