404 



JUDGING SHEEP 



down to the knees and hocks and up to the extremity of the 

 jaws, reaching over the poll and terminating in a tuft on 

 the forehead. It is fair in mutton production, the back 

 being broad and the body very compact in form. The early 

 type of the breed was small, flat-ribbed and late in maturing 

 qualities. The modern type is more refined and compact 

 and has better fattening propensities. The back is broad, 

 long and the quarters are well developed. The breed is 

 hornless. It is claimed it is free from foot-rot, but this 



Fig. 169. — Romney ram. 



(Courtesy of Messrs. Hickman and Kent, Scruby, 

 England.) 



may be somewhat exaggerated. The breed is adapted to 

 low-lying lands, although it is not likely that it is entirely 

 immune from this disease, peculiar to sheep when main- 

 tained on low lands. The quality of the breed is fair in mut- 

 ton and wool. There is some inclination to coarseness of bone 

 and open fleece characteristics, an average fleece weighing 

 about eight pounds. The breed has considerable merit and 

 has met with favor in Australia and some of the British 



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