CHAPTER XIII 

 THE TYPES OF SHEEP 



Flocks of domesticated sheep, Ovis, species musimon, \ 

 or ammon, are referred to in the very earUest records of 

 husbandry. They were kept, however, for their fleeces, 

 the evolution of the mutton sheep having been accom- 

 plished at a comparatively recent date by the English hus- 

 bandmen contemporary with or subsequent to Bakewell. , 



Sheep, being ruminants, have an economic importance I 

 similar to that of cattle but they fit into a niche which 

 cattle do not fill. Sheep are much better rustlers, con- 

 sume many weeds and grasses which cattle refuse, graze i 

 closer, and therefore do fairly well on rough, unproduc- 

 tive lands, where cattle could not subsist. They are also 

 natural gleaners and much that would otherwise be waste, 

 in stubble fields, may be saved by turning in sheep. 

 Then they have the advantage of maturing and reproduc- 

 ing at an earlier age than cattle. 



The prevailing high price of beef has materially increased 

 the consumption of mutton. This and the low price of 

 wool have resulted in a much better grade of mutton 

 being offered to the consumer. Sheep are now much more 

 generally mutton bred, fed to a higher degree of ripeness 

 and sold as lambs or yearlings. 



248. Types of sheep. — While every sheep may yield 

 both a mutton carcass and a fleece the two products are 

 not correlated, and both are, therefore, seldom secured, in 



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