SUPPLEMEXT. 755 



SHEEP AND HOGS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 



BEPOBT BY CONSVL-GBNEBAL MEBBITT. 



Supplementary to my report on cattle-breeding, I beg to transmit the following notes 

 on the different breeds of sheep and pigs of this country. 



BKEEDS OJP SHEEP. 



"With the exception of the mountain breeds British sheep have changed during the 

 past century even more than British cattle. In reviewing the several breeds as they exist 

 at the present time I will commence with 



The Cotswold. — This breed may be described as possessing the following character- 

 istics: 



' ' The frames are large, and when fatted are surprisingly wide and flat on the back. 

 The hind quarter and thighs are full, and the rumps frequently overhang. The chests 

 are very prominent and wide. The face is white, and the countenance fine. They carry 

 a heavy fleece of beautifully curled white wool, long in staple, and of a lustrous char- 

 acter, used for "combing," and generally for the same purposes as that of the Oxfords. 

 They are excellent for crossing with other kinds." 



The Cotswold breed can no doubt make good its claim to antiquity far better than 

 most other breeds, and it is generally thought that the Cotswold range of hills owes its 

 name to the sheep cotes once to be found upon them. These sheep have finer forms 

 than any other variety in the Kingdom, being very long and broad over the back and 

 shoulders, while their height makes them appear more imposing than would otherwise 

 be the case. Cotswolds have been so much improved in symmetry and in disposition to 

 fatten during the present century that there is a general opinion that some infusion of 

 Leicester blood took place in Bakewell's day or soon after. Hoggets, under liberal man- 

 agement, feed to carcasses of from 90 to 100 pounds when from eleven to twelve months 

 old. Draft ewes are sometimes fed to great weights, and Mr. John Coleman has stated 

 that he has known instances of their reaching 70 pounds per quarter dead weight. The 

 wool of a Cotswold flock averages about 9 pounds per fleece; hogget clipping, 14 or 15 

 pounds. The native home of the breed was the neighborhood of the Cotswold hills in 

 Gloucestershire. Afterwards they extended themselves very much into the neighboring 

 counties, especially Oxfordshire, Worcester, and Hereford, and also into Monmouthshire 

 and South Wales. The modern breed of Oxfordshire Downs has now very much sup- 

 planted this breed in certain districts, but there are yet excellent ram-breeding flocks in 

 Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, and also in Norfolk. 



In reference to the Cotswold breed the accompanying notes (inclosure No. 1 *) have 

 been received from Mr. H. I. Elwes, of Colesborne Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, 

 in which he alludes to the origin of the breed, its characteristics, the climate of the lo- 

 cality, nature of soil, &c. This valuable and hardy breed of sheep, it may be noted, 

 possesses great merits in respect to importation as apart from the value of their meat and 

 wool. The excellence of the cross between Cotswold and Merino sheep is acknowledged. 

 Breeders of the Oxfordshire Down, of the Hampshire Down, and of the Shropshire 

 Down, respectively, claim the favor of importers, and these as well as the Cotswolds, the 

 Suffolk, the Lincoln, and the South Down, have great merits that make a choice be- 

 tween them difficult. The Cotswold claims the long descent of three hundred years. 

 Next to the Lincoln sheep in size the Cotswold bears wool weighing 10 pounds to the 

 fleece; in special instances 24 pounds; and the staple is long, very strong and durable, 

 suitable for fabrics for rough wear. 



The cross produced between Merinos and Cotswold. sheep is heavier at a year old than 

 is a pure-bred Merino at two years. Experiments made by Sir John Lawes credit the 

 Cotswold breed as making a greater asd quicker return for its food than does any other 

 breed which he has compared with them. Lamb rams are used for breeding at eight 

 months old. The Cotswold sheep bears cold successfully in the English climate all the 

 year round. From 500 ewes, the produce of Mr. Elwes's flock ig 600 to 650 lambs, 

 counted when weaned. The death rate varies from 2 J to 7 per cent, of the whole flock 

 of ewes and lambs. In commenting on the adaptability of the Cotswold sheep to other 

 districts, Norfolk, South Wales, and other parts, Mr. Elwes states that the breed 

 changes character more or less when removed from its native hills. This may well be 

 a fact, and yet many of the Norfolk Cotswolds have carried away prizes when compet- 



*The inclosures referred herein by the consul-general will be found in their regular or- 

 der immediately after his report. 



