60 Sheep-Farming 



Border Leicester has more length and massive char- 

 acter than its prototype as augmented by Bakewell." 

 The Border Leicester, aside from type, chiefly differs 

 from the Enghsh Leicester in that they are better 

 foragers, which in connection with great vigor of 

 constitution enables them to withstand with more 

 success the exposure attendant on living in the rugged 

 country. 



Value of Border Leicester for crossing on hill sheep. 

 — For crossing on ewes of the Cheviot or Blackfaced 

 breeds, the Leicester ram is the most popular agent in 

 Scotland. This method of crossing is quite generally 

 used, for it has been found that the half-bred sheep 

 makes an unusually vigorous and hearty feeder; 

 one that is easily made fat for the market. The quick 

 fattening qualities of the Border Leicester, together 

 with the size and weight of fleece it gives, is supple- 

 mented with the vigor, fine milking qualities, and fine 

 wool of the Cheviot ewe. 



Crossing on fine-wooled sheep. — In New Zealand 

 and Australia, where mutton rams have been exten- 

 sively used to improve the common Merino fiocks 

 to supply the demand for dressed meat and also 

 meet the conditions of the wool markets, the Border 

 Leicester has been extensively used, and the cross 

 has given fully better satisfaction than any other. 

 In presenting the views of the breeders in New Zea- 

 land on this point in tabular form, Mr. Robert Bruce 

 credits the Border Leicester with a score of 88 out of 



