OXFORD SHEEP 137 



and whose weight is the heaviest. They have never yet 

 succeeded in defeating the Southdown and the Shropshire 

 breeds in carcass competition. 



Oxfords have longer legs than other medium wool sheep. 

 The color of the hair on the face is brown, sometimes with 

 gray spots, somewhat lighter in color than the Shropshire; 

 and the wool, while covering the head, does not meet on 

 the face below the eyes. The ears are also much longer 

 and coarser than those of the Shropshire. 



These sheep are distributed over the United States, 

 particularly in the section east of the Mississippi and north 

 of the Ohio River. They are not popular on the range, 

 because they do not do well in large flocks and are not 

 hardy enough for range conditions, but they are quite 

 popular with the farmer who keeps a small flock. The 

 ewes are prolific, and the lambs develop rapidly and attain 

 a good weight at an early age, which makes them much 

 admired by the stock buyer. Rams should weigh from 

 250 to 350 pounds and ewes from 180 to 275 pounds. 



The Hampshire . — Hampshire sheep originated in Hamp- 

 shire, England, and rank next to Oxfords in popularity. 

 Rams weigh about 250 pounds when mature, and ewes 

 from 185 to 195 pounds. These sheep are not so long- 

 legged as the Oxfords. They have fine and compact fleeces, 

 which are short and do not yield a great deal of wool. The 

 hair is black, and the skin is deep purple in color. A great 

 many of the lambs are born black, but after the fleece 

 grows they become white. The face, not covered with wool, 

 is black. The heavy Roman nose gives this sheep a coarse 

 appearance. 



The breed is meeting with great favor in America be- 

 cause the lambs mature early. They are prized highly for 



