PART III — SHEEP 

 CHAPTER XLV 



THE MERINO OR FINE-WOOL TYPE OF SHEEP 



The Merino involves several families, and all sheep of this 

 group are known as fine wools, producing the finest of fiber 

 used in the woolen trade. 



The Merino in general conformation may be compared to the 

 dairy cow. The body lacks fullness of bosom, breadth of back, 

 and general thickness all through; the leg of mutton is not thick 

 and full, and the neck and legs tend to be long. A muscular 

 development of the entire body prevails, rather than smooth- 

 ness and heavy fleshing. The wool is somewhat short of staple, 

 is very thick over the entire body, and is remarkably fine in 

 quality. An oily secretion, commonly known as yolk or grease, 

 found on all sheep, exudes from glands at the base of the wool 

 fiber, and gradually passes up the wool to the tip. Some sheep 

 possess much more yolk than others, notably Merinos of the 

 Spanish-American type with heavy folds. This yolk accumu- 

 lates dust and dirt on the exterior of the fleece, forming a dark, 

 dirty covering. There are exceptions, however, with the smooth- 

 bodied Merinos, some showing but little external yolk. 



Three classes of Merino sheep are recognized to-day by many 

 of our leading breeders. Owing to the difference in type, as 

 shown by the folds or wrinkles on the neck and body, in 1893 

 the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago grouped these 

 sheep into two classes. This same classification has been ac- 

 cepted and used elsewhere, including the Louisiana Purchase 

 Exposition in 1904 at St. Louis. The classes are as follows: 



Class A Merino represents the distinctly Spanish or American 

 type, with heavy folds at the neck and over the body and hind 



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