78 TYPES 



culinity. Several years ago, while visiting various pure-bred flocks 

 in Great Britain, the writer was greatly impressed by the unusual 

 masculinity of most of the stud ram^ he inspected. It seemed to 

 him then, as well as now, that the English sheepbreeder .places higher 

 value on masculinity than the American breeder. This is a matter 

 to which American breeders should give careful consideration, with 

 a view to determining whether they or the British breeders are 

 more nearly right. 



Femininity is manifested by refinement of features, matronly 

 appearance, and relatively great development in the hind quarters. 

 All of the above characteristics combine to produce an effect which is 

 quite the opposite of that produced by masculinity. The truly 

 feminine ewe has proportionately less substance in her neck and 

 front of body than the masculine ram, her features are much less 

 rugged and her Ijody lines are more gracefully turned. But the 

 refinement characteristic of femininity is not over refinement to the 

 point of delicateness. At this point the breeder needs to exercise 

 care. Strong bone, provided it shows quality, size of body, or 

 roominess, vrith features to match do not necessarily indicate lack in 

 femininity, but rather that Aery essential development of characters 

 which should be associated with it (Fig. 40). 



Mild expression has often been spoken of as indicative of femi- 

 ninity in ewes. If this term implies meekness and submissiveness, 

 then it is wrongly applied, because the desirable breeding ewe pos- 

 sesses vigor and snap. She is upheaded, alert and conscious of what 

 is in progress around her almost to the point of appearing to be 

 nervous. She may be of retiring disposition so long as she is not a 

 mother, but with her young at the side she is courageous and stands 

 between her young and what she senses as danger with defiant 

 fearlessness. In parturition such a ewe is very nervous, apparently 

 so anxious to see her lamb that she cannot wait for it to come; 

 but when it does come she usually not only protects it, but also feeds 

 it well. 



Successful breeders discard masculine or " staggy '' ewes because 

 usually they are not profitable as producers. Often they do not 

 breed at all. When they do, they may have trouble in lambing; 

 and they are usually poor both in maternal instinct and milking 

 properties. 



Wethers (castrated males) if unsexed when only a few weeks 

 old, tend to resemble ewes in the various characters influenced by 



