108 



THE SOUTHDOWN 



ditions under which some breeds are able to live. At birth the 

 lambs weigh about eight pounds and, as a rule, they are strong, 

 active, eager for feed and disposed to grow from the start. Both 

 the mature sheep and the lambs take kindly to all well-known sheep 

 feeds and they are especially fond of grazing on pasture grasses, 

 to which they are perhaps .somewhat better adapted than to luxuriant 

 forage crops. Under average conditions with respect to feed and 

 shepherding, it is characteristic of the mature sheep to remain plump 

 and in good condition through practically all seasons, and the 

 lambs early attain plump form and a firm, ripe condition which 

 give them distinction as a prime baby lamb product. The lambs do 

 not attain weight as rapidly, however, as do those of some of the 



Fig. 66. — Grade Southdown lambs bred by University of Illinois. The granddame — 

 the western ewes in Fig. 148. These lambs, two crosses removed from Western ewes, possess 

 the characteristics of Southdowns to such extent that none except expert judges could 

 distinguish them from pure breds. 



other breeds, but unquestionably they make good use of the food 

 they consume. In America they weigh approximately 50 pounds 

 when three months old (Fig. 65). 



Breeding Qualities. — In Southdown flocks, the per cent of 

 lambs born to the number of ewes bred ranges from 125 to 150. The 

 ewes are good mothers ; they seldom disown their lambs and they 

 suckle them well. When in the lambing fold, the ewes, although 

 smart and alert, are not wild, nervous or reckless to the detriment 

 of their lambs. 



In cross-breeding and in grading up. Southdown rams are ex- 

 tremely prepotent. No matter what kind of ewes they are mated 

 with, their offspring bear unmistakable resemblance to the South- 



