S8o SHEEP 



The size of the Hampshire Down is large, being second only to 

 the Oxford Down, although Wrightson classes the former as the 

 largest of the middle-wool breeds. J. H. Taft of Michigan made 

 an importation of ewes which in fair flesh averaged from 175 to 

 200 pounds, while lambs of his own raising at about ten months old 

 weighed an average of ii3|- pounds. James Wood of New York, 

 once a leading American authority on the breed, gave 300 pounds 

 for weight of the mature ram and something over 200 pounds 

 for the ewes. Shaw and Heller place the weight of mature rams 



Fig. 269. Hampshire Downs on pasture, the Butterfield Ranch, Weiser, Idaho. 

 From photograph, by courtesy of the Ametican Sheep Breeder 



at 225 to 275 pounds and ewes at from 175 to 200 pounds, 

 and state that it is, with the possible exception of the Oxford Down, 

 the largest of the Down breeds and excelled in size only by the 

 Lincoln and Cotswold among the long wools. Coffey gives the 

 weight of rams in breeding condition at 250 to 300 pounds and ewes 

 at 180 to 225 pounds. The standard of excellence of the breed 

 makes no reference to size or weight. 



The Hampshire Down as a mutton sheep ranks high. It has 

 long been a popular breed in the English mutton market on 

 account of its rapid growth under intensive feeding. In Hamp- 

 shire these sheep are generally hurdled on rape, kale, vetches, or 

 roots, and are pushed faster than any other breed — lambs making 

 gains of about a pound a day in many instances. They seem to 



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