Sheep; Its History, Breeding, Production 



17 



The Cheviot is a small, neatly built animal, with no wool on head 

 or legs, average weight of mature rams around 170 pounds, and ewes 

 130 to 150 pounds. The Cheviot is a white faced sheep, ears small and 

 erect, fleece weighing from 6 to 8 pounds. They are a very hardy 

 sheep and distinctly a grazing breed, fattening quicker on grass than in 

 the feed lot. The ewes are prolific, and while the lambs are very vigr 

 orous and seldom chill and die when born out of doors, they do not 

 mature and attain weight and finish quite as fast as some of the Down 

 breeds. The Cheviots are used mostly in this country in crossing with 

 the Oxford, Lincoln and other 

 larger breeds, the cross producing 

 the kind of mutton sheep or lamb 

 most in demand on the American 

 market. 



The Leicester 



The Leicester is a white faced 

 sheep, with rather coarse wool, in- 

 clined to be twisted and curly. Ma- 

 ture rams weigh from 225 to 250 

 pounds, ewes 175 to 200 pounds. 

 The mutton is rather coarse, and 

 they require a great deal of care 

 and do not mature and fatten as 

 rapidly as the Down breeds. They are used mostly for crossing with 

 the Merino, the cross producing the quality that is desirable in good, 

 thrifty feeders and handy weight muttons. 



Leicester 



The Lincoln 



The Lincoln is a large, robust 

 appearing animal, with firm flesh, 

 and from brisket to twist, carcass 

 is thick and heavy, and in these 

 respects it is not surpassed by any 

 breed. The wool is very long and 

 coarse, the staple often growing to 

 a length of 12 inches in 12 months, 

 and fleece weighing 12 to 15 

 pounds. Mature rams weigh 

 around 300 pounds, ewes about 250 

 pounds. The breed, as pure bloods, 

 is not in demand on the American 

 mutton market, but is very valu- 

 able in crossing with the Merino 

 and other smaller fine wooled sheep. 



Lincoln 



The Romney Marsh 



The Romney Marsh is a large, rugged, rather low set sheep, noted 



