River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-04-25


A correspondent of the National Live
Stock Journal asked for "a full and
fair description of the Cctswold, Lei
cesters and Lincoln sheep" This is
the reply:
The Leicester is usually placed
at the head of the long-wool breeds
as being the finest in form and
fleece, end also because it has
been largely used in crossing
for the improvement of the other va
rieties.
The head is hornless, and rather long
and narrow; ears thin, with spots of
blueish tinge. The long, well-cut ear
OF the pure Leicester, with its spright.
lv backward inclination, is a distin-
gushing characteristic of the breed,
as is also the full, prominent eye, with
quiet and lively expression. The
face and forehead must be bare ofwool,
though covered with fine coat of hair
white, with a little inclination to
the blueish TINT.
The body is straight, with ribs well
sprung ard barrel shaped the belt IN.
clined to be thin; the wool exceeding
ly 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 true
Leicester sheep is as near perfection in
form as can be conceived possible.
The Cotswold, though of late years
modified by the crosses of the Leices-
ter breed, and, therefore, strongly re.
sembling that breed, is somewhat
coarser and longer in carcass with a
heavier fleece, which should be as lus-
trous, though not so fine as the Leices-
ter. 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 on
the leg than the two varieties before
mentioned, anl the carcass is apt TO be
less symmetrical but the fleece is
longer and heavier, and though not
quite so fine as the Leicester, is unsur-
passed in luster, and, therefore, COM
mands the best prices in the markets.
It is difficult TO describe animals so
as to enable person to determine the
pure breeds from the mongrel ; indeed,
the best judges are not always able to
detect the presence of light dash OF
inferior blood.
One thing the producer may rely
upon, that long-wool sheep peddled
about the country at low prices are
never pure bred. Indeed, blooded
stock Of all sorts should be purchased
by parties that are known as reputable
breeders-this is the only reliable secu-
rity the purchaser can have that the
animal purchased will turn out what it
is represented to be.
The Southdown sheep has q broad,
rather short, though exceedingly neat
head forehead covered with WOO, and
the face ana legs with grey aud brown
hair. The fleece is rather short, OF
good felting quality, cqnal 10 half
blood Merino, but superior for flannel,
etc, and should be solid aud compact,
and of uniform quality throughout,
without projecting hairs.
The carcass should be straight, with
well-sprung ribs and broad, level back,
having wide quarters, deep flock and
we'll packed twist. This being held in
higher esteem than any other breed for
/ the production Of superior mutton, the
! full and perfect development Of carcass
is deemed of the highest importance.
The Hampshire Downs are coarser in
form and fleece, with black faces and
legs.
| The Shropshire Downs are a cross