The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-11
OUR FARM BUDGET.
Mutton Breeds Of Sheep-Making Hot
Bed.
Durable Timber Result OF shallow Drain
ing-HOusehoId Hints and
Fam. Notes.
Mutton Breeds of sheep.
PHILADELPHIA Record.


One of the greatest mistakes made by
farmers is that Of expecting profit from
mutton while engaged in wool-gIowing as
prime feature of sheep raising. The wool
breeds are the Merinos, Cotswolds, Lincoln
and Leieesters, the former supplying very
fine textured wool and the others wool OF
long combiDg quality. Being small and
active, the Merinos are more easily kept
in large iocks than the others, and can sub
sist on scanty pasture. The long wool breeds
are very large in size, and while producing
heavy feeces, also give extra large carcassss.
The carcssses, however, are usually
abundant in fat or tallow, and as a rule the
smaller sheep give meat Of better quality.
In no case has the farmer been able to breed
frat class mutton and high grade of heavy
wool from any one breed, the consequence
being that the majority of sheep sent to
market are such as have been raised for wool
IN preference to carcass, q course Of action
which deprives the American market of
mutton equal in quality to that used in
England.
OF late years great improvement has been
made IN the Downs" or mutton breeds.
Such sheep have been bred in England for
centuries exclusively for mutton, though
they slsc yield feeces much above those Of
the native kinds, and our American breeders
are beginning to turn their attention to those
breeds with view of improving our mutton
sheep in this country. The Southdown, one
Of the best and hardest breeds we have, has
for years been well known as a superior
mutton sheep, but their usual size did not
make them general favorites, especially as
they did not yield much larger heeces than
the natives. The objection was also shared
by English breeders, and in using the South
downs as foundation upon which to build
up other good mutton breeds, the Hamp-
Shutdown, Oxforddown and Shropshire
down were produced. These breeds are all
crosses of the larger breeds (Cotswold, Lin
celn and Leieester) with the SouthdoWn, but
they have been bred so true to certain points
ard characteristics for years as to make them
distinct and pure breeds.
Years have been spent in attempting to
produce a breed combining the large size o.
the Cotswold, with its long silken fleece. and
the maIbled meat of the Southd)Yn. By q
cross Of one of the mutton breeds with the
Cotswold q sheep was produced possessing
the dark face and legs of the Southdown aud
the size Of the Coiswold. This breed, known
as the Oxfords Cor Oxforddons), possesses
many good qualities that should commend it
to those farmers who believe large profit
can be realized by raising sheep for the
butcher. They are now larger than the
Cotswolds Ia ram on exhibition last year
weighing 413 pounds). the weight of $50
pounds being usual. They are active, con-
sideIing their size, and, though requiring
good pasture and care, are harder than the
CotiEolds, while the carcass is neariy
equal to that OF the South
down. They also shear large aeeCsI
but in that respect are somewhat inferior
tt tie Cotswold. The Hampshires aud
ShTopshires are also large breeds, and are
nearly quail to the Oxfor6s in size and su-
perior to them so far as ability to subsist on
certain pastures are concerned. The Ok
fords. however, possess perhaps a greater
number of desirable characteristics as a
mutton breed, considering size, hardness,
fleece and aptitude to fstten than any other.
With the advantage of breeds of sheep that
weigh from 200 to 500 pounds we see no
reason why our farmers may not produce
mutton at fair profit and with as little
outlay and care as that of wool growing.
The common fiocks may be gradually i'm.
proved by the use of thoroughbred rams,
and in few years the value of the flock
may be doubled at very little expense, while
those who are compelled to buy mutton will
be supplied with better article than that
which now finds its way to the cities. and
Which Is usua ly very inferior in quality.