360 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
442. Uses of Cotswold sheep. — The Cotswold is a 
fair mutton sheep, giving a big carcass of strong mut- 
ton, very popular in the mining districts of England. 
It has not been so popular in America for mutton, 
except the lambs. The abundance of external fat 1s 
against it. In America it has been used for crossing 
on Merino and native sheep, the produce being a 
lamb of the mutton type, quick-feeding and hardy, 
weighing 120 to 140 pounds at a year old and carry- 
ing fair fleece. For wool, the breed has always been 
celebrated, giving a heavy fleece of strong combing 
wool, weighing sixteen to eighteen pounds per fleece 
in the best specimens. The staple should average ten 
inches in length, and frequently exceeds this. The half- 
bred lambs yield a large fleece, giving much profit to 
the wool-grower. 
448. Distribution. — The Cotswold has become wide- 
spread in America. The largest number of breeders are 
in Ontario, although there are many flocks in the other 
provinces of Canada. In New York, there are good flocks. 
Going westward, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa 
and Wisconsin stand in the order named for number of 
breeders, but all are exceeded by Oregon, which has the 
largest number of any state in the Union. There are 
large flocks in Utah, and many half-breeds in Montana 
and other sections of the West. Kentucky at one time 
had large flocks, and the blood there is still in evidence, 
but they have not been kept on record. In England, the 
Cotswold is most popular in its native county of Gloucester 
and neighboring counties. It has been exported to Russia, 
Germany and France, on the continent, and to Australia 
and New Zealand, as well as to many parts of North 
America. 
