50 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



Crossing Merinos on other breeds in nearly all in- 

 stances improves their hardihood. The Merino is un- 

 doubtedly the most hardy of the improved breeds in 

 America. This superior hardihood is partly the outcome 

 of inheritance, partly the result of the impervious or re- 

 sistant character of the fleece to storms, and partly the 

 outcome of exposure, which their superior hardihood en- 

 ables them to resist. This characteristic explains, in a 

 measure at least, the great popularity of the Merino blood 

 on the western ranges. It has been found that sheep pos- 

 sessed of a considerable measure of Merino blood will en- 

 dure exposure better than other breeds ; that their graz- 

 ing properties over wide areas are superior; and that they 

 can be grazed more successfully than other sheep in large 

 bands. The large size of the Rambouillet and the im- 

 proved mutton form of the Delaines make it practicable 

 in many instances to maintain size in the types crossed 

 upon, and also fair mutton qualities, in addition to the 

 improvement in the fleece which results from these 

 crosses. 



Crossing mutton breeds on Merinos — The American 

 Merino, and especially grades of the same, furnishes ex- 

 cellent material for being crossed upon by the mutton 

 breeds. In the pure form the Merino is strongly resistant 

 to change. This is the outcome from centuries of breed- 

 ing without admixture of blood from any outside source. 

 The characteristics of the Merinos thus crossed will be 

 dominant in a greater degree in the progeny than the 

 characteristics of the breed used in crossing. But grades, 

 though strongly possessed of Merino blood, are much 

 more plastic. The superior ruggedness which they 

 possess transmits to the progeny that vigor which enables 

 them to bear up under forced feeding. 



The crossing of Merino grades by sires of the mut- 

 ton breeds results in increase in size and weight, and in 

 improvement in the mutton form, and in the propensity 

 to fatten readily. It also tends to remove wrinkles. The 



