CHAPTER XIV 
LESSER KNOWN BREEDS OF SHEEP 
470. There are a great many little-known (in America) 
breeds of sheep that are worthy of mention, as some of 
them have met special needs in special regions, and have 
qualities to recommend them. There are still others, 
such as the Welsh Mountain, the Lonk and the Shetland, 
that are of so little interest to farmers in America, that 
they may safely be ignored. 
471. Barbados or ‘‘ Woolless”’ sheep (Fig. 77). 
By E. L. Shaw. — Representatives of this breed of sheep 
were imported by the United States Department of Agri- 
culture from the island of Barbados, West Indies, in 1904. 
It is thought to be of African origin. It is hardy and very 
prolific. The ewes breed at any season of the year, and 
produce one to five lambs at a time. The young lambs 
are very attractive. The breed is of medium size and has 
somewhat of a deer-like appearance. The color varies 
from a light fawn to a dark brown. The under part of 
the body and the legs are very dark in color, almost black. 
The ewes are hornless and the rams are usually so, but 
in some cases the rams have small horns curving back- 
ward and downward. The rump is steep, the tail set 
low, reaching the hocks. The breed is practically without 
wool, the body being covered with coarse hair. The 
small quantity of wool is of very fine fiber. The hair has 
a decided crimp. The rams have a very decided beard, 
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