2 BULLETIN 94, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGEICULTTJKE. 



As a rule, but one breed should be selected. Where there is more 

 than one breed upon a farm it is a difficult matter to keep the gates 

 all closed at the proper time and prevent crossing. If several farms 

 are available more breeds can be handled, but the difficulties in man- 

 agement are much increased. The most successful sheep breeders 

 in America handle but one breed. The fact that there are more 

 breeds than in any other class of farm animals may in itself make 

 the selection of one breed rather difficult. Some of the deciding 

 factors should be climatic conditions, feeds available, elevations, 

 what particular line of the industry is to be followed, and popularity 

 of the breed. 



The effect of climate is strikingly illustrated in the evolution of 

 the sheep industry of the extreme Northwest. The Willamette 

 Valley in Oregon, now so famous for its long wools, was once partly 

 occupied by fine-wool sheep. The large amount of rainfall, which 

 comes in a long-continued drizzle, caused the hay and weed seeds 

 that became lodged in the wool to grow and become green upon the 

 sheep's back. The Merino breeds were decidedly out of place there. 

 After a time the Lincoln and other long-wool breeds were introduced 

 and the industry assumed a different aspect. Their long locks act 

 as a thatch, carrying the water off, and these breeds thrive as they 

 do in few other places except their native counties in England. 



The kind of feed produced is of importance. The larger breeds 

 have developed upon land that has produced abundantly. They are 

 capable of taking care of a larger amount of feed, such as the moist 

 fertile lowlands produce, while the smaller breeds succeed better 

 upon the less abundant fare of drier and less fertile pastures. There 

 is evidently some connection between the general higher quality of 

 the smaller breeds and the scanty, more nutritious feeds that they 

 receive under natural conditions. If they are removed to the low- 

 land they lose much of their characteristic type and quality. 



The effect of elevation upon a breed is also apparent, but how much 

 of this effect is due to the amounts and kinds of feed it is difficult to 

 determine. Certain it is that the mountain breeds are smaller, more 

 active, more hardy, and better able to care for themselves than their 

 down or lowland neighbors. 



The importance of hardiness in the mountain breeds was shown 

 during the last century along the Scottish border. The Cheviot had 

 for a number of years been displacing the Black-faced Highland breed 

 because of its finer quality of wool and somewhat better carcass. 

 A number of severe winters worked havoc among the flocks of the 

 former breed by causing a very heavy lamb loss, and the Highland 

 breed, because of its hardiness, came back into its own. 



The effect of the soil upon sheep is somewhat obscured in the effects 

 of feed, elevation, etc. That there is some effect can not be denied, 

 but the extent of this is an unsolved problem. 



