Cross-breeding for Wool and Mutton Production 171 



three-quarter-bred ewes can easily be distinguished by 

 their appearance and would need no marking. The first 

 come-back may be marked by cutting a notch at the end 

 of the right ear ; the fine or second come-back with a notch 

 in the left ear; and the offspring of the fine or second 

 come-back with notches in both ears. If the sheep are 

 marked by the lamber at birth there will be no danger of 

 mistakes. It is a simple matter to herd all the sheep to- 

 gether during the year and divide the band into two or 

 three bands during the breeding season, depending on 

 whether the breeder wishes his mutton stock sired by a 

 medium-wooled or a long-wooled ram. If he preferred the 

 latter, then his pure-bred Merino ewes, half-bred ewes, and 

 second come-back would all run in one breeding band with 

 long-wooled rams ; and his three-quarter-bred ewes and 

 first come-back ewes, in another breeding band with pure- 

 bred Merino rams. If he preferred the former, he would 

 have to maintain a separate breeding flock for his fine 

 come-back ewes, which would be mated with medium-wool 

 rams. 



This system permits of as many steps in the process of 

 cross-breeding as is possible and still produce the most 

 profitable sheep for range conditions. The ewes of these 

 five classes produce wool of a very high character and uni- 

 form from year to year. The male lambs of the first four 

 classes and the entire progeny of the fifth class sell satis- 

 factorily as mutton Iambs. In this way the band would 

 be producing both wool and mutton of the very best type, 

 and the greatest possible value would have been obtained 

 from the original start of Merino ewes. 



