G52 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



rise ill the price of mutton in 1887 and 1888 accelerated tlie change, and 

 men who liad purebred Downs or Lougwools, of any of the breeds, 

 had a great increase of business, disposing of their surplus stoclv to 

 breeders without any effort and at good prices. With the demand for 

 mutton breeds to cross on Merino ewes there came a demand on the 

 part of the people for mutton of a good quality. 



The descendants of English sheep or the common sheep of the Eastern 

 and Jliddle States were introduced into \Yisconsin in the early years of 

 its history, but they were generally neglected and allowed to run out 

 for the more profitable Merino. Some Canadian sheep were introduced 

 from time to time between 1865 and 1880 and some were imported from 

 England, and those and their increase contributed the 25 per cent in 

 the State in 1883. From 1883 to the i)resent time many pure-bred 

 sheep have been imported from the best flocks of Canada and England, 

 and WiscoTisin can now show as fine an array of pure-bred English 

 breeds as can be found elsewhere in the United States. The State is 

 blessed with the very finest climate and grass, and everything to hand 

 that is needed, and the intelligence and enterprise of her people assure 

 the highest degree of success in maintaining a high standard and mak- 

 ing substantial progress. 



The earlier English breeds introduced into the State, and in the order 

 named, were the Leicesters, the Cheviots, the Southdowns and the Cots- 

 wolds. The Leicesters are not as popular as some other sheep, for the 

 reason that their mutton is too fat to suit the taste of the American 

 palate and their fleece too open to suit the climate. The Southdowns 

 maintain their position here, as elsewhere, at the head of mutton breeds, 

 and yet they have not been so widely extended as some others in the new 

 sheep husbandry of the State. In the vicinity of cities where very early 

 and choice lambs are in demand, many are kept and their cross on the 

 Merino is in high favor. 



The Cotswolds were largely introduced between 1865 and 1868, and 

 have been reinforced by later importations. The Cotswold breeders 

 have met ^^'ith a fair degree of success in their business. For many 

 years they enjoyed almost a monopoly in the sale of English blood, the 

 Cotswold being almost exclusively used to cross on the Merino for lambs 

 and mutton. They are still in favor with many new breeders who find 

 that the Cotswold ram will make money for them when crossed with 

 grade sheep, the increase being profitable for mutton as well as produc- 

 ing a good fleece. 



George Harding, of Waukesha, keeps about 100 registered Cotswolds, 

 which are fed bran and oats, besides their coarse forage, and in the 

 coldest weather corn is gi\eu in place of other grain. A month before 

 yeaning time the ewes are fed roots and clover hay in place of corn. 

 Lambs come in March and are kept well sheltered, as it is not so much 

 dry cold from which they suffer as exposure to wet. Ewes are kept 

 as long as they breed \\ ell. He sells his pure bred Cotswold lambs for 



