440 SHEEP 



respectively. 'Y\^^ fleece covers the body in rather large locks or 

 curls, very similar to the Lincoln, naturally parting along the back 

 and hanging down the sides to considerable length. The legs have 

 much the same color marking as the head. In quality this breed 

 ranks well, and va. general appearance has a carriage which Cotswold 

 men regard as distinguished. Professor Wrightson states that 



the Cotswold was often described by the late Professor Coleman when teach- 

 ing at the Royal Agricultural College [which is in the Cotswold district of 

 England], as a sheep which could "look over a hurdle," that is, carried his 

 head high and well poised on a somewhat erect neck. This is said to be 

 accompanied with a tendency to be " ewe necked " and low in the rumps, or 

 " down at both ends," as I have heard Professor Coleman repeatedly say. 

 He knew the Cotswold sheep well, and was himself a Cotswold man, so his 

 opinion carries weight. These faults have been corrected in the best flocks 

 there can be no doubt, but they exist in second-rate animals, as is most 

 evident in rough weather, when the animals are viewed at a disadvantage. 



In carriage the Cotswold is a sheep of dignified appearance, with 

 considerable alertness of expression. 



The size of the Cotswold is large, ranking very close to the 

 Lincoln and often equaling it. A mature Cotswold ram in 

 moderate flesh should weigh from 250 to 275 pounds, and the 

 ewe from 200 to 225 pounds. Select show animals often weigh 

 much more. 



The Cotswold as a mutton sheep is rather ordinary. The 

 quality of the mutton is inferior in sheep two years old or over, 

 the fiber lacking fineness and the percentage of external fat too 

 great on well-fed animals. The Cotswold is most desirable for 

 the table up to twelve months of age, producing a very good 

 grade of lamb. 



The Cotswold as a feeder ranks well. In various feeding experi- 

 ments the wethers have made heavy gains. In 1852 Sir John 

 B. Lawes reported on important sheep-feeding experiments at 

 Rothamsted, in which he showed that forty-six Cotswold lambs 

 made a total gain of 2928J pounds between December i and 

 April 17, a weekly increase per head of 3 pounds 2\ ounces, and 

 an increase for each 100 pounds live weight weekly of 2 pounds 

 2 ounces. Twenty of these lambs, fasted weight, dressed out 

 61.48 per cent. In extended experiments by this investigator 



