BREED CHARACTERISTICS 403 



and not well distributed. The underside of the body and 

 legs is often scantily covered with wool. 



The size of the breed ranges from 200 to 225 pounds in the 

 rams and from 150 to 175 in the ewes. The form of the 

 Dorset Horn is somewhat inclined to be rangy, the ribs 

 flat and the back low. The body has not as much scale 

 and compactness as desirable for a typical mutton sheep. 

 The Dorset Horn is an exceptionally good breeder, the ewes 

 making excellent mothers, often breeding twice yearly. The 

 quality of the lamb and mutton is above the average. The 

 constitution is very well developed, although there is some 

 tendency to shallowness of chest. Lack of mutton form 

 and even distribution of fleece are criticisms of the breed. 



Standard of Excellence and Scale of Points fob Dorset 



Sheep. 



Points . 



Head. — Neat, face white, nostrils large, well covered on crown 



and under jaw with wool ..... .5 



Horns. — Small and gracefully curving forward, rather close to 



jaw . ■ . 5 



Eyes. — Prominent and bright 2 



Ears. — Medium size, covered with short white hair .... 2 

 Neck. — Short, symmetrical, strongly set on shoulders, gradually 



tapering to junction of head ... . . 5 



Shoulders. — Broad and full, joining neck forward and chine 



backward with no depression at either point (important) 15 



Brisket. — Wide and full, forward, chest full and deep . 8 



FoREFLANK. — Quite full, showing little depression behind 



shoulder . ... 8 



Back and Loin. — Wide and straight, from which ribs should 



spring with a fine, circular arch .10 



Quarters. — Wide and full, with mutton extending down to 



hocks . . 10 



Belly. — Straight on under line 3 



Fleece. — Medium grade, of even quality presenting a smooth 



surface and extending over belly and well down on legs . 12 



General Conformation. — Of the mutton type, body moderately 



long; short, stout legs, placed squarely under body, skin pink, 



appearance attractive . . 15 



Total 100 



Romney. — The Romney breed is a native of Kent county, 

 England. The breed is comparatively new and untried in 

 America. The head and legs are white, the wool extending 



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