6i6 



SHEEP 



Crossbred or grade Tunis sheep sired by Tunis rams are 

 regarded on the market as of choice quality. At the Arizona 

 Experiment Station the progeny of Tunis rams on native ewes 

 proved superior as feeders and for range conditions to those sired 

 by Shropshire, Hampshire, Oxford, or Dorset Horn rams. The 

 lambs came early and soon attained large size, and the fleece was 

 improved by the cross, being notably superior to that of the dams. 



Fig. 290. Tunis ewe 2568, champion at the 1916 Ohio State Fair. Exhibited by 

 R. E. Owen, Fulton, New York. From photograph by the author 



The Tunis for early lambs has special qualifications. The pure- 

 bred or crossbred ewe will breed at any season of the year and may 

 be mated in spring to drop lambs in the fall for the Christmas 

 market. The lambs fatten rapidly and if with dark faces are well 

 suited to the Eastern market demand. Doubtless their use for 

 early lambs will materially increase. 



The fecundity of the Tunis sheep ranks high. Twins are fre- 

 quent, and as the ewes will breed twice a year if desired, the flock 

 may be rapidly increased if physical conditions do not interfere. 



The fleece of the Tunis sheep is of special interest. It is of 

 excellent quality, being soft, fine, and fairly compact, covering 

 the body excepting the head from forehead down, averages about 



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