Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-04-30
MERlNO SHEEP BREEDING.

at an annual meeting OF tlle MacOlnD
Co. (Mich.) Sheep Breeders and Wool
Growers association, and published in
the Michigan Edrmer, we extract the fol-
lowing historical facts and deductions:
Let us briefly review the history of
Merino or fine wool growing, since the
first importation in 1902.
In 1907, before the large importations
made at the time of the breaking up of
the great focks of Spain by war, com
mercia difficulties occurred between
France and England and this country,
and wool rose to 81 per pound; and, sub
sequently, in 1909 and 1910, it is said that
Mr.. Livingstone sold his full blood wool.
unwashed, for 81 per pound, and later,
during the war of 1872. it rose to S2.oO
per pound. Sheep sold for 500 each
during this time. These high prices no
doubt stimulated the extensive importa-
lions of 1910 and 1911, when it is believed
at least $1,000 sheep were imported from
Spain, and was partly owing, no doubt,
to the low prices there, caused by the
devastation of the pure-bred flocks by
war. This was followed by period of
depression caused by the treaty of peace
in 1915, which re-opened commerce and
overthrow our infant manufactures. such
a revulsion ensued that before the close
of the year Merino sheep were sold for
81 per head. This was sad blow to the
infant industry which had been so highly
nourished by circumstances of politics
and war, and had it not been for a few
brave spirits, pure-bred sheep would have
been completely annihilated As it was
there were probably not one-half as ma
ny strictly pure-bred NIerino sheep in
1924 as in 1872.
In 1924 wooden tariff was enacted
which gave a new impulse to the produc-
ton of fine wool. At this time the Sax
ons were introduced: the older breeders
knew their character. They were of the
same origin as our Merino. viz, the
Spanish focks. and were introduced into
SaXony (from whence they derive their
names as early as 1865. The course
of breeding adopted in that country was
to develop very high quality, at the eX
pense of quantity, and at the expense of
both carcass and constitution.
The American breeder has done far bet
ter, and has in the same time obtained as
fine fleece and much larger quantity at
the same time improving the carcass and
not iniuring the constitution.
The scarcity of fine woods and the large
price paid for them in this country. en-
HANGED by the great discrimination in IA
vor of fine wool by the tariff of ISIS. eX-
cited mania fol its production, but the
strife conferred largely in the Saxon. al
though the price of Saxon wool did not
reach an average price of more than ten
cents per pound above Spanish Merino,
and this discrepancy was more than filled
by the greater weight of Spanish fleece.
Yet the mania began and continued till
1910 and longer, and many Spanish tlocls
were ruined, or greatly injured. by cross
ing with the Saxon during this time.
A reaction began, however. in 1910,
and breeders began to realize that some
thing more than fineness of fleece was
needed in their focks. The change was
aided by the tariff of 1916, which made
an even 30 per centum on all woods and
cloths, and the Saxon was overthrow.
/ remember very well the character of
these Saxon Merinos, as some of them
were bred as late as lS50-52, and at this
day it seems strange that American
breeders ever introduced them; and es-
pecially strange that they consentedi to
cross these inferior, weak-constitutioned
sheep on their flocks of Spanish Merinos.
1t is noticed therefore that nOtwithstand-
ing the demand for fine wool from 1924
to 1910, the Merno flocks did not greatly
improve during that time, and the weight
of fleece was increased no more than
would be expected from the better care
they would receive in this country over
that of the large fiocks in Spain. After
the enactment of the tariff of 1916, the
Merino interest prospered well for few
years. After 1850 the French sheep were
introduced and soon took the lead in
prices. French rams were extensively
crossed on the Spanish iocks, and large
numbers of them We're sold. The injury
as far as blood was concerned, was not
as great as it would have been had these
Saxon or French sheep been of other
blood. But their blood was just as pure
as that of the Spanish, save that they had
been bred and fed for years, SO as to
change their character, one for the fine
wool without regard to carcass, and the
other for size and quality of fleece, and if,
as is sometimes charged,any flock remains
tainted with either of these crosses, they
would still remain uncontamnated with
foreign blood. only excepting the condi-
ton that they were spurious crosses, of
which there were many. The prosperity
OF Merino sheep continued up to near