The Sheep Stock of Gloucestershire. 
41 
breeds showed that Cotswold sheep consumed less food in 
proportion to live-weight increase than any other breed in the 
experiment ; that, as compared with Hampshires and Sussex 
Downs, they gave a heavier carcass in a given time, a heavier 
proportion of carcass to live-weight, a considerably larger 
proportion of outside fat and less of loose or internal fat. 
These experiments further demonstrate that, in the case of 
the Cotswolds, the animals of largest increase showed most 
markedly the characteristic defects of the long-woolled sheep, 
that is to say, the coarsest meat, and a deficiency of internal 
and an excess of external fat, more particularly on the breasts 
and rumps. 
These results fully bear out the opinion of the butcher, 
namely, that Cotswolds have suffered in their reputation from 
not being brought out sufficiently early, with the result that 
they are often sold at too great weights, and when too fat to 
be profitable either to the producer or to the retailer ; that, as 
a breed, they carry a considerable portion of their meat on the 
inferior parts of the carcass, while a section through the back 
and loin shows a smaller depth of lean meat than is the case 
with Downs or half-breds. The growing demand for small 
joints is another factor which tends to depreciate Cotswold 
mutton. 
It must, however, be borne in mind that the very qualities 
which militate against the popularity of the pure-bred 
Cotswold, as a butchers’ sheep, are among the most valuable 
attributes of the breed for crossing purposes. 
Wool has always been a strong point of the breed, and at 
one time was a more important consideration than mutton. 
Even as late as 1870, when wool was worth 70s. per tod, the 
clip of the flock would often more than pay the rent of the 
farm. Since then the period of low prices has led to some 
neglect of this important produce. Breeders were induced to 
sacrifice wool to mutton, but of late years there has been a 
reaction — much to the advantage of the breed for crossing 
! purposes in this country and abroad. The yield of wool of 
i some of the best flocks has l’eached astonishingly high figures ; 
I at one weighing recorded of late years, 1,100 fleeces from one 
' flock gave 417 tod of washed wool, an average of 10^ lbs. per 
fleece. Another recorded average is 10 lb. 5 oz., but, speaking 
I generally, 9 lb. is a good average. Tegs have been known to 
i cut 22 lb. of washed wool, and a good teg fleece will measure 
10^ in. to 11 in. in length of staple. 
It will be asked whether there is any attempt on the part 
of breeders to modify their animal to meet modern require- 
ments. The answer is undoubtedly in the affirmative. The 
general tendency is in the direction of a rather smaller and 
