Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-05-03
RELATIVE ADVANTAGE OF LARGE
AND SMALL SHEEP.

In the proceedings Of the Penri'h Arri.
cultural Society, Eng land, we find some
remarks OF M. Gray, on the comparative
profit. to The grazer, of large ond sma II
breeds OF sheep, which we transfer into our
columns for The benefit Of our readers-of
The buyer as well as the seller of mutton
II Is mistaken notion, too prevalent. that
The lorges, carcassess are the cheapest, or
the very fat ones the most pala'able and
healthy. On the contrary. the Devon cat.
tie. South Down sleep. and The Berkshire
pig, which are considered medium sized
breeds, give better beef, better mutton,
and better pork, than the larger and coar-
ser breeds Of these animals. The former
give more fat lean meat than the latter
that is, the fat is better in,ermjxe! with
the lean; the meat Is more rich, tender and
economical for the table although the pro.
portion Of clear laIlow or for may be less
But our cX,rac, refers merely to the prof :
of the graz,cr. 1t seems hat IN their
wards at the fair, the judges had some
what favored the small breeds Of sheep
On the health of the Judges being gwen,
Mr.. Gray. The chairman, addressed the
meeting. and among other remarks, made
the following:
81 dare say that the opinion ofthe Judges
with respect to sheep, has been much cen
sured, although declare have no, heard
any observations to hat effect. My reason
for surprising 80. is tins, that people who
have 90, gent experience of the qualities
aud n'ceIles connected with every dcscrp.
ION OF stock, are apt TO look principally
at That winch fills the eye, and to form a
favorable oplnlon Of ANIMALS upon q large
scale, and Tins is particularly the case
with respect TO the Leicester sheep. |
have had considerable experience with
sheep Of his description. having. in former
times, Kept flock Of between nine hun.
dred and one thousand Leicester ewes and
therefore have some iiIe TO speak upon
the subject. say, then. that the Iarces'
sheep are the least profit able. II it can be
a>cerlalned, as ! believe It has been, that
you can feed on an acre of land greater
number Of pound, OF mutton in carcasses OF
from IL To 90 lbs, per quarter than IN car
cases of from twenty eight 20 thirty lbs,
then every one must agree that the advan.
lngeS are on the side Of the smaller car
cases. The reason Of tins is obvious; in
times of drought and scarcity. small ami.
nal can collect for itself as mach food as
larger one, and having smaller carcass.
II derives more advantage from 1t. Whilst
therefore. the larger animal is losing in
condition. the smaller one, if not improving
remains stationary; and when the period
arrives at which abundance Vt food can be
obtained it almost 'mmedlatel y re- assumes
It's position, and is fit to 90 to the marke;
sooner than the larger animal, do .not
presume to offer any thing like dclalion
to this meeting, but am confident tina,
those gentlemen present, who have had
experience On this subject, will bear me
out in saying, lhet there are advantages IN
breeding the description of stock to which
have been referring, which do not attach
TO animals Of better appearance and larger
slZp."