412 



JUDGING SHEEP 



of the muzzle to the top of the hoofs with the exception of the 

 ears and nose. The pecuHar development for wool production 

 gives the breed unusually dense fleece characteristics. The 

 skin is excessively wrinkled over the neck and body. The 

 head is small and has large, spirally twisted horns in the rams. 

 The ewes are polled. From the standpoint of mutton pro- 



Fig. 173. — American Merino ewe. 



duction the breed is unusually defective, the heavy wool- 

 producing qualities being antagonistic to the development 

 of this quality. The fleece is short and very fine, and at 

 times contains as much as 50 to 70 per cent, of yolk. The 

 fleece is not excelled by any other breed in quantity or 

 quality.. Shearings of forty pounds or over are on record. 

 The accumulation of foreign matter in the wool, caused by 



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