St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-01-31
DIFFERENCE in MUTTON.
The Younger the Animal the Better tho
Meat, as Rule. I


IA new subscriber asks us to stats
the difference in the quality of mutton
We suppose he means the difference be-
tween the meats of the different Breeds
It is a matter that We have frequently
discussed in our columns. Practically
in the American market there is no diff
ference. That is to say, mutton IS made
from all breeds, and the average con-
sumer knows no difference. At best he
only knows when one roast of mutton
is Of poorer quality than another roast
And that knowledge does not lead him
to make inquiry of his butcher for NUT
ton of one of the mutton breeds, the
next time he buys. As a matter of fact
good Merino mutton is good mutton,
but it is not as good as mutton from O.
well-kept mutton sheep. Nature has
not made it so that it can produce SO
good quality of meat. A vast DEAL
too, depends upon the character an6
quantity of food A well and property
fed Merino will make better mutton than
a poorly-fed, q very poorly-fed ShroR-
shire, Cotswold or Southdown. We be-
lieye that there can be no doubt OF this
Now the Dorset chalky downs and txEa
blue grass limestone pastures OF this
country make the best mutton in the
world. That seems to be the particular
kind of pasturage that produces the
best mutton. What we have said might
indicate that the Merino could be fed up
to the highest mutton standard. Some
take this position. But that can not be-
accomplished from the fact that the
texture of the meat will not admit or
such result.
But in producing mutton for the mar
ket there is vast difference between
the Merino and the mutton breeds. The
profit in mutton production dependo
upon earliness of maturity. Ii YOU
must keep sheep several months
longer than would be necessary to keep
another sheep, before it is large enough
to be proftably disposed of, we are not
only losing time, but we are losing IN
quality of mutton. The younger the
animal, after certain age, the better
the meat, as rule. Consequently il
one sheep is ready for market several
months before another is, the mutton
will be better; and though, as said be-
| fore, quality, beyond the standard of good
| or fair, may not cut a very conspicuous
figure in the American market at pres
| ent it will some time, and it is our duty
| TO look forward to that event. II q
| Cotswold lamb will furnish forty or
| forty-five pounds of mutton at an age
! when the Merino lamb will furnish not
more than twenty pounds, in mutton
point of view the CotsWold is the most
profitable, both in the matter of guam
tity and quality. In selecting breed
| of sheep, however, all the surrounding
/ circumstances need to be taken
into consideration. II we were COM
PEELED to throw away the carcass OF
! the Merino when the animal was no
longer useful as wool producer, there
would be greater need OF considering
more closely the difference in breeds.
But as the mutton carcass sells readll y
it is only necessary to take into consld~
| Grafton the location and other outside
conditions. Of course, ali understand
/ that the mutton breeds need better care
/ than the merino does. The merino will
/ live where the mutton breeds Will
starye, and will do reasonably well with
i neglect or necessary exposure that
would kill the mutton breeds. This is
i one reason why the merino is preferred
for the plains. Another reason is that
those regions are so far from the NUT
ton markets. That is matter to be-
taken into consideration always, and
vet distance from the market does not
cut the figure that some suppose it does,
If man is very near the market there
would be no difficulty in deciding at
once upon a mutton breed. If he is
remote from the market then he may
select mutton sheep or the merino, as
seems best under all the circumstances.
Kentucky sends thousands of sheep to
the Boston market, and sells this mutt
ton at two cents pound, on an aver
age, more than New England mutton
will bring. This would indicate that
distance has little to do with the profit
able production of mutton, if the other
conditions are favorable.
It requires more care, on the WHOLE
to produce mutton than it does wool,
and that must be considered. Mutton
can not be produced, for instance, ac-
cording to the system in vogue on the
ranges. AS already said, the feeding
must be full and the food of the best
quality, and the care must be excellent.
We can learn much from the English
system of sheep industry. England
produces the best of mutton because
they there take the best care Of their
sheep. II they attempted to winter
their sheep, as hundreds among us do
upon dry food, they would produce no
better mutton than we do. But they
have long since learned the value Of
roots, especially of turnips. Take away
Tho tl,rn,ir, and the Enolish flnck-maSteI