650 



SHEEP INDUSTRY OP THE UNITED STATES 



of thirty years' experience purchased a 2-year-old Delaine Mej?ino 

 ram, and raised from him and his ordinary Merino ewes 60 lambs. The 

 lambs were pastured in a flock of 200 on rather short pasture until 

 September 1, when they were weaned and put by themselves in a stubble 

 field. December 1 they were taken up and penned with other 2-year- 

 olds and rams, about 100 in all, and were fed during the winter one-half 

 bushel of oats per day, and clover and timothy hay mixed. They looked 

 fair, and the wool upon opening was nice. The 60 lambs were sheared 

 in June, and averaged 11 pounds per head of nice clean wool, the light- 

 est fleece weighing 7 pounds. They ran up to 15 pounds, generally 

 going 10, 11, 12, and 13 pounds each, l^one of them were rams, but 

 all ewes and wethers. 



During the same period, 1884 to 1890, there was increased attention 

 given to English breeds of sheep, before considering which it is desir- 

 able to record the increasing weight of the Merino fleece. 



At the annual shearing at Whitewater, May 2, 1882, under the aus- 

 pices of the Wisconsin Merino Sheep-Breeders' Association, 65 sheep 

 were shorn, the heaviest fleece being 28§ pounds from a 3-year-old 

 ram whose weight of carcass was 100 pounds, the weight of fleece in 

 proportion to carcass being 25.55. The heaviest ewe fleece was 17j| 

 pounds from a ewe weighing 83 J pounds, the percentage of fleece to 

 carcass being 21.48. The highest per cent of fleece to carcass was from 

 a 2-year-old ewe weighing 59 pounds, and giving 16J pounds of wool or 

 28 per cent. 



In 1886 twelve 3-year-old rams averaged 22 pounds and a little over 4 

 ounces; seven 2-year-old rams a little over 20| pounds, and the two 

 yearling rams 14f pounds each. Seven 3-year-old ewes averaged 17 

 j)ounds and 3 ounces, and seven 2-year-old ewes a trifle less than 17 

 pounds 2 ounces. 



At the southeastern Wisconsin shearing of May 12, 1886, the Merinos 

 were divided into two classes, the American Merino and the Delaine 

 Merino, and premiums awarded as follows : 



Class 1. — American Merinos. 



