15
111. Beluchistan.—These
sheep have rapidly acclimatized themselves to
the Deccan and do not appear to suffer from the heat or lose condition in any
way. They have bred regularly strong, healthy lambs with a fair proportion of
twins. The ewes are good mothers with plenty of milk. Fat lambs, when
5 months old, averaged 93 lbs. live-weight and ram-lambs, 8 months old, averaged
103 lbs. The fleece of these lambs still retains its fine woolly character, but
I have noticed in one or two of the ewes, since last shearing, that the fine wool
just over the shoulders has a tendency to become hard and hairy, denoting that
it is deteriorating from the effects of the climate. These sheep have good
square compact carcasses, come quickly to hand, and the fat mutton they turn
out is very rich and of a delicate flavour. The wool, though very fine and with
a good staple, has been condemned by experts in England as unfit for the manu-
facture of high class woollen materials. Average weight of fleece 4¾ lbs.
112. Deccan.—These ewes were carefully selected by me in various parts of
the Deccan, care being taken that they were thoroughly representative of the breed
and with white fleeces. They are hardy sheep, prolific breeders, with abundance
of milk and the best of mothers. The Siah Band cross on the Deccan ewes is an
undoubted success. Fat lambs, bred on these lines, averaged, when 5 months
old, 92 lbs. live-weight, and appear to inherit all the good qualities of the ram
and the hardiness of the mother. The cross brings them closer to the ground,
gives them a square compact appearance, improves the quality and staple of the
fleece, and practically does away with its hairy character in addition to
increasing its weight from 1 to 3 lbs. The tail is thick at the root and resembles
the Doombas on a small scale. The first cross can, therefore, claim to increase
the size, improve the quality of mutton, completely alter the character of the
fleece, increase its weight, and give to the Deccan an improved sheep, in every
way hardy and capable of standing the climate, and I see no reason to prevent it
being as prolific a breeder as the indigenous sheep. They come early to maturity,
are good and rapid feeders, and some of the ewes I have bred on these lines are
the most shapely sheep I have seen in India. Average weight of pure-bred
Deccan fleece is 1 lb. 3. ozs. Average weight of fleece by Siah Band cross
3 lbs. 1 oz.
113. Rájputána.—Fifty
selected ewes were bought round about Jodhpur
and Málwa, where the best Rájputána sheep are supposed to be bred and brought to
Ahmednagar. They took a long time to adapt themselves to the soil and
climate and did not thrive. The first crop of lambs was small and ill-nourished,
the mothers having little or no milk. The lambs, although kept under identically
the same conditions, averaged, when 5 months old only, 40 lbs. live-weight; they
are high on the leg, resemble the ewes, and do not appear to have inherited any
of the good qualities of ram, as I cannot detect any difference in the fleece or
generally make and shape from the pure-bred Rájputána. The head, however,
somewhat resembles the Siah Band ram, and there is a certain amount of
thickening at the root of the tail. As far as one can judge, the violent change
from sandy to black cotton soil has been more than they could stand, as they are
delicate sheep, shy feeders, and, I should say, quite unsuitable for this part of
India, and the cross of the Siah Band ram is not a judicious one.
114. Merino.—Eleven pure-bred merinos were bought from the Hunter
River in Queensland. They arrived in a very poor and emaciated condition, but
rapidly put on flesh and bred me a crop of lambs eight months after arriving in
the country. Here, again, the influence of the ram is most marked, the lambs
taking on nearly all his characteristics. The fleece is completely changed from
the compact close-curled wool of the merino to a soft, silky, straight fleece, re-
sembling a mixture of the two breeds. The head and shoulders resemble the
ram and the tail is a Doomba's on a modified scale. The lambs are very
healthy, strong and growing rapidly. The cross, from a mutton point of view,
should be a good one, but I have grave doubts, whether the admixture of two
breeds, both excellent in their way, is likely to be beneficial. Rams, however,
bred on these lines should make a good cross for the Deccan ewe.
115. I allow the flock to graze all day. They are housed at night when
they receive a ration of gram, chopped Guinea grass, lucerne and chaff mixed
with a plentiful supply of salt. These experiments are useful, in that, they prove