142 



BREEDS OF SHEEP AND GOATS 



both sexes are horned. In size they rank between the 

 Shropshire and the Southdown, but have longer legs, and 

 are not so uniform in conformation and quality. In their 

 native country they have been kept pure longer than most 

 breeds of Enghsh sheep. The rams weigh about 200 pounds 

 and the ewes about 160 pounds each. 



Fig. 52. — Dorset ram. 



The hair of this breed is pure white, the skin pink, and 

 the wool which is short but of good quality covers the body 

 closely and compactly, the head and face only being free 

 from wool. 



They are well distributed over the world. In this 

 country they are popular because the ewes are very pro- 

 lific, and will produce two crops of lambs per year. The 

 mothers are good milkers and the lambs grow rapidly. 

 They are very useful for producing winter lambs which 



