The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-05-16
Agricultural.
Breeds of Sheen.

Breeds of Sheep.
A correspondent of the National
Live Stock Journal expressed wish to
see ca full and fair description of the
Ootswold, Leicester and Lincoln Sheep
whereupon the Journal proceeds as fol-
lows
The Leicesters are usually placed at
the head of the long-wool breeds, as I
being the finest in form and fleece, and |
also because it has been largely used |
in crossing, for the improvement of
other varieties.
The head is hornless, and rather long
and narrow; ears thin, with spots of
blush tinge. The long, well cut ear of
the Leicester, with its sprightly back
ward inclination, is a distinguishing
characteristic of the breed, as is also
the full prominent eye; with quiet and
lively expression. The face and fore
head must be bare of wool, though COW
cred with a fine coat of hair-white,
with little inclination to the blush
tint.
The body is straight, with limbs well
sprung and barrel-shaped the pelt in
clined to be thin; the wool exceedingly
soft, fine and lustrous, and should be
uniform over the carcass.
The acknowledgements and legs
are exceedingly fine, but the quarters
are full and wide, with back broad and
level. Indeed, the carcass of the true
Leicester sheep is as near perfection in
form rs can be conceived possible.
The Cotswold. though of late years
modified by the crosses of the Leicester
blood, and therefore, strongly resem-
bling that breed, is somewhat coarser
and longer in carcass; with a heavier
fleece, which should be as Iustrous,
though not so fine as the Leicester.
The head is larger, and must have a
tuft of wool on the forehead, which the
Leicester never has.
The Lincoln is as large as the Cots
void, though in other respects, as now
bred, very strongly resembling the Lei
cester. The head is long, the face mar
row and bare of wool, with white fine
hair and light blush tint as in the Lei
cester. They stand rather higher Oh
the leg than the two varieties before
mentioned, and the carcass is apt to be
less symmetrical, but the fleece is long
er and heavier, and though not quite SC
fine as the Leicester, is unsurpassed IL
lustre, and therefore commands the
best prices in the markets.
It is difficult to describe animals Sc
as to enable a person to determine the
pure bred from the mongrel; indeed
the best judges are not always able tc
detect the presence of a slight dash O.
inferior blood.
One thing the producer may rely upo1
-thatlong-wool sheep peddled about the
country at low prices are never pure
bred. Indeed, blooded stock of al
sorts should be purchased of parties
that are known as reputable breeders
this is the only reliable security thai
the purchaser can have that the ANNA
purchased will turn out what it is rep
resented to be.
The Southdown sheep has broad
rather short, though exceedingly nea
head forehead covered with wool, anG
the face and legs with grey or brown
hair. The fleece is rather short, O.
good felting quality, equal to half
blood Merino, but superior for flannel
ETC., and should he solid and compact
and of uniform quality throughout
without projecting hairs.
The carcass should be straight, will
well sprung ribs, and broad level back
having wide quarters, deep flank an(
well-packed twist. This being held il
higher esteem than any other breed TO
the production of superior mutton, tn
full and perfect development of car
cass is deemed of the highest import
ance.
The Hampshire Downs are coarser i
form and fleece, with black face an
legs.
The Shropshire Downs are a eros
between the Southdowns and long
wools-a large breed, with long coars
wool, in form resembling the CotswoId
with black faces and legs.
In regard to this matter of the colo
of the faces and the legs, it is remarks
BILE that while the Southdowns, whie
stand at the head of all these varietie!
have, as before observed, brown or gre
colors in these parts-their crosses o
other breeds will frequently show blac
faces and legs.
When the object is to keep a sma
flock for mutton, rams of this variet
are found TO be exceedingly profitahl
to cross on ewes of almost any otht
breed. But the nearer they go to IL
pure blood. the better the mutton.
HoVen or Bloat in Cattle.
AS this is the season when danger /
cattle occurs from turning them upo