The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-01-07
SHEEP BREEDERS
First Annual Meeting of the Michi.
gan state sheep breeders, Assoc
Clnlion.

Breeders Association held its annual
convention in Grange Hall, Marshall,
Wednesday, Dee 1871. About 100 OF
the principal sheep breeders Of the
State we're present, representing about
20 counties. Most Of the afternoon
was spent in effecting an Organization
IN listening 10 the reports Of the secre.
tary and treasurer. During a lnll in
the business, Devillo Hubbard, OF
Marshall, was introduced, and made
some remarks in regard 10 the decline
of wool in prices aud the necessity OF
organization among wool-grewers.
In the evening the President, Mr..
VIM. Ball, Of Livingston county, de-
livered his address. He spoke Of the
difficulties experienced by sheep breed
ers and of the advantages Of concert
ed action in procuring favorable legis-
lation and in influencing markets, aud
of other benefits derived from associa-
tions like this.
The address was followed by brief
disc Ission in regard to the Society q
connection with the National Associa-
ton, from which il appeared that al
though cooperating with that Associa-
ton, the Society was not controlled by
it nor liable TO arbitrary assessment.
Alter the appointment of some COM
mittees, letters were read from VIM. @.
Markham. Secretary of the n. Y. Asso.
citation, and Adam Deal, Of Milford.
4. +. Townsend, Of Pavilion, " Y,
being called upon for some remarks
upon the subject Of registration, spoke
IN substance as follows. There are
three different registers, one each in
Ohio, Vermont aud New York. The
Ohio, called the u. s. Register, was
the one first started. and was at first
designed for national affair, but be-
fore II was completed q number of
members withdrew and started the one
In Vermont. In the meantime one was
commenced in Western New York. -
One plan is TO register individual
sheep; another-the one adopted in
Vermont and Now York-is TO register
hOcks. The pedigrees OF hocks to be
inserted in the New York register are
first submitted to a committee, then
published in the Rural Home, and be-
fore fnal admission are again reviewed
by a committee. The speaker regard
ed register for a single State as i'm
practicable. A register in order to be
of value should be national, not sec
tional.
II. +. Johnstone, of Detroit, also
spoke upon the subject. and advocated
general or national register.
At this point il was remembered that
at previous meeting a committee had
been appointed to report upon the sub
ject at this meeting. Two members
not having yet arrived, the committee
was given until next day to report.
Q. A. Miller, of Marengo, Vice Pres
ident of the Association, read a paper
upon practice Of Sheep Husbandry. I"
We condense the following: Sheep
hushandry was closely connected with
early history. and has always held a
prominent place in romance. Shep-
herds and shepherdess wandering with
their fiooks aud crooks amid groves,
along purling streams aud over fra
grant plains have been favorite figures
of history for poets and writers Of fic-
ton. In early DAYS the Kings of
France, Spain and Germany protected
aud fostered sheep husbandry. But IT
was left for private persons To reduce
II 10 "A practical aud profitable business.
Sheep hlsbandry, as practiced in mod
ern times. began TO be first understood
abOut 1900 The romance was quickly
brushed away. IL was found that tai
elt. study and energy were necessary
To success. When the Spanish Merinos
were FIRST imported 90 this country it
ms FnnfsI II. -
habits, and, in degree. their nature.
The efforts Of breeders in that direc-
tion have been successful beyond ex-
pectation. Good seuse. plenty of good
food, good shelter, aud care IN selec-
tion, would ensure success.
The subject of registration being
again called up. Peter Martin. of Rush.
y. Y. advocated a register. He would
be willing TO unite with the Vermont
men If the name Of the register could
be- changed. although he liked the y.
\. plan better. The name OF a State
affixed 20 a register, even II focks
from other States were registered in IL,
would send buvers to that State. Mr..
Daugherty thought that the name was
of 10 consequence. III q Michigan
flock was registered, its location would
appear.
Thursday morning, after the appoint
ment OF some committees, etc, Peter
Martin, Of Rush. n. Y, read q paper
upon ''StOck Rams"
No type varies so much as merinos
IA now grown. Breeders usually show
all varieties at fairs, without reference
To their own preferences, in order to
please customers. IL like would breed
like, il would be necessary only 10 Sc
lect an animal that suited and breed
from il. But we breed as much from
its ancestors as from the animal itself,
aud pedigree il therefore of import
ance. A first-class stock ram should
possess the following qualities: He
should be a line or type bred animal,
not necessarily in and in bred, but
should possess the type OF his ances-
tors, and should have been bred long
enough in such line as experience
teaches US fixes the type. A flock to
be valuable for breeding, should be
uniform ia appearance, so that when a
few sheep are shown they will repre-
sent the entire flock. A ram from such
flock will transmit its qualities. Con-
stitution should be the first qualifica-
ton. He should have a compact,
round body; well arched ribs; roomy
waist; back short and straight from
shoulders to hip, sloping slightly 10
the tail; should be broad across the
loins and hips; have the hips long
and holding thickness well out TO the
tail; should be thick through the
thighs, aud stand straight mp and
down behind; the shoulders should be
deep. rising little from the back. Civ.
ing him the appearance Of being sharp
shouldered; be should have the bosom
full and projecting; legs short rather
than long. strong boned, straight and
standing we'll apart; head broad and
short; nose broad, wrinkly and thickly
covered with short, silky, white hairs
neck short, very thick and covered
with heavy fUlds, especially on the un.
der side; a wrinkled belly; wrinkles
below aud back of the hips, around
the tail, below ADD around the thighs
heavy flank; skin thick. not as highly
pink colored as would be desired in the
eve, aud flexible and loose across the
carcass. He should be Of medium
size, weighing from 100 to 175 pounds
in full fleece. The fleece should be oi
uniform firmness, aud crimped on AL
sides except the outer edge of folds. -
The wool should present an even, com.
pact surface. aud should extend vel
over the head and legs. The heecs
should open freely 10 the skin In seams
ehauld ha hllal with li0ht hnif volk