The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-09-26
TOPICS FOR THE FARM

Leicester Sheep.-Among the i'm
ported breeds of sheep in Great Britain,
the first rank belongs to the Leicester,
which is the largest type of the long
wooled sheep in that country, and it is
more widely met with than any other.
A few years since, when the whole num-
Der of sheep in Great Britain was 34,-
531 900, their numbers and classification
were as follows: Leicester and their
allies, 12,933,000; Downs and allies,
| 6,130,000; Cheviots, 1865, ,000; Black
faced, 5, 101 900; Welsh, 100000; and
Irish, 100000.
The Leicesters~are not a more ancient
race than either Lincolns or Cotswolds,
but in the hands of Bakewen they were
| modelled into type of animal that
eventually impressed its qualities more
or less upon every other variety of long
wooled sheep. The rams of the breed.
are in high demand for the purpose of
crossing with other breeds; and the Lei
cesters possess remarkable fattening
qualities, while arriving at maturity at
a very early age. Bakewell was first
heard of in connection with this breed
of sheep in 1850, when he commenced a
system of letting rams, as distinguished
from selling. In less than twenty-five
years he achieved great success. Prob
ably no better proof of the value of the
Leicester could be afforded than the fact
that in England they have superseded
vast proportion of the sheep of the
country, while they have also been ex-
tensively used to improve almost every
other breed.
The Leicesters do not present in their
outline the form of parallelogram on
four legs, as is often adduced as the best,
but rather the ovate form. The fore
quarter of the Leicester is remarkably
well developed, the shoulders are wide
and sloping, the animal stands close to
the ground, the neck is short, so that
the head is raised but little above the
line Of the back; the ribs are well sprung
, and the carcass very true, the hips well
covered, but not wide and tapering to
the rump, which is small; the back is
covered with fat. With great capacity
for external and rapid development
there is little inside fat, hence Leicesters
= are not favorites with the butcher
Their great point is early development
: and accumulation of weight on a giver
and generally bare or covered with shor
r hair. Formerly great point was made
of bare heads, but now most breeders
!. prefer to have close, short wool, which
3 protects from the fly. The eye is full
!, and prominent, indicating docility o
/ disposition, the head is tolerably lony
q and fine, while the ears are thin ant
!, rather long. The legs of mutton are no
y large, and there is a deficiency of meat
: The skin is thin and very supple, Will
bo xuoo1 1c fro ,,J ri lono~
\ The Leicesters are not a prolific breed
" though they are fair nurses and gene1
: ally afectionate mothers. In early day
.. too many lambs were regarded as grea
! evil, and if the breeder left off with a
v equal number with the ewes they wer
! well content. In these days more fruit
i full sorts are desirable Leicester sheer
Is however, are esteemed for their value q
n ewes, and it is on account of the extr.
~ ordinary influence they have exercise
If on most of the leading breeds that the
a. merit high place. This breed of shee
10 is not adapted to inferior soils, nor |
j wander far in search of food, nor /
NJ suffer occasional scantiness or depriv
~ ton of nourishment, but on all soils
- moderate and superior quality and
good pastures they are extremely prof
ls able to the breeder. The lambs a
inclined to be tender and weakly, al
are not quickly covered with coat
i'll wool. The fleece is also inferior to Il
in largest weights of wool. Delicate tel
lst peraments, arising from over refnemen
a were the only signs of the above de
We cieneies. The actual weight is variou
ey owing to the larger and smaller varieti
,ss and of the treatment received. tt
he fattened wethers of two years old W
in average from twenty-five to thirty-f'
n pounds per quarter. The wool is
he medium length, six to eight inches, al
no the fleece about eight pounds. T.
ng length does not enter into the first ra
n, combing woods, and for the purpose
re worsted it is inferior to the woods
n other breeds; but, being evenly grow
ed soft and of good color, and possessil
ot several properties of long wool in pt
s, fection, it commands the highest pri
lis in England, and is quoted as the reg
ng lating standard.