BREEDS OF SHEEP AND OOATS 



339 



mutton sheep than were EUman's. As a mutton sheep, the 

 Southdown has occupied a most important place for a cen- 

 tury or more, being still regarded the model sheep for that 

 purpose. It has been used to help unprove more breeds 

 than any other. Southdowns were first imported into 

 America about 1800, and since then many veiy excellent 

 specimens of this breed have been imported to this country. 

 The Southdown has been noted for its short, neat head, 

 which is more or less covererl with wool down over the red- 

 dish-brown face. It 

 has a short, thick neck, 

 broad chest, wide 

 back, thick meaty leg 

 of mutton, and short 

 red-brown legs. No 

 other breed matures 

 earher, and it is not 

 lacking in hardiness. 

 Southdowns are well 

 suited to grazing on 

 the better class of 

 pastures, but are not 

 so good for the range 

 and poor pastures as 

 are some others. The 

 flesh is very fine of 



grain and is not inclined to be overfat. Butchers especially 

 admire this sheep because it kills out so well, with small 

 amount of loss. The Southdowns, or sheep with more or 

 less of Southdown blood, have won more prizes in fat-stock 

 shows where the carcasses were considered than has any 

 other breed. At our great International Live Stock Expo- 

 sitions, the Southdown has usually won the grand-champion- 

 ship in the dressed carcass exhibit. Mature rams weigh 

 about 180 pounds, and the ewes 135 pounds. These sheep 



Figure 143. — Southdown ram bred by King 

 George V of England. Owner Ohio State 

 University. Photograph by the author. 



