The San Saba weekly news. (San Saba, Tex.) 18??-1???, 1891-11-20
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The REQUISITES OF GOOD
MUTTON SHEEP.
sheep for Mutton-Ground Bono as a
Fertiilzer-Experience OF Twelve
Years with EnsllRge-
} Notes ana Homo Rints.
A Good Mutton sheep.

In choosing a mutton sheep, either
to feed or breed feeding stock from,
there are some principles that can be
lad down as true and applicable in al
most all cases. writes George McKer-
row In the American Sheep Breeder
Inc easy feeder must be OF the thick
neshed, blocky sort FOR daylight that
shines under sheep. hog or steer can
never be made into meat and the pos
SCISSOR OF long legs rarely makes a
nrst class feeder The ribs should be
well sprung so as to give a broad,
straight back from shoulder to hip,
upon which good high priced meat
can be placed with judicious feeding.
The hips should be carried out on a
line with the back to the tail. keeping
q good width all the way. and should
be well filed at the thigh or waist
while the fore leg should be well filed
with meat above the knee. the Shout
ders must be full and muscular. In
short the carerss should be plump and
full throughout its whole length.
Constitution and healthy condition
are all important and are shown by a
bright clear eye one that is not yel-
low, bloodshot or watery. A spright-
~ active step. as the animal moves
along. A snort thick neck that ta-
pers gradually from shoulder 70 head
and Is full Of muscles on TOP OF the
shoulders. A wide, deep chest and
heart girth giving room for large
lungs and heart and rich pink skin.
With all these points well developed
and large abdomen to give plenty OF
room for the consumption and diges-
ton OF food, you have a sheep that
with proper foods fed at regular times
and in a proper manner will yield
profitable returns to the feeder and
give satisfaction TO the shipper.
butcher and consumer, making all
better for,having owned him
All rams or ewes that have been
highly fitted in small yards or sheds
should not be given the preference for
breeding as they often are over sheep
Vi equal quality that only lack the
soft fabby flesh that IS a detrlment to
its possessor. Breeding rams should
bein good muscular condition brought
Eout BY liberal feeding on muscle
corning foods. such as oats. bran.
clover hay and good grasses while
they have good range where they
can have sufficient exercise
The most Of American breeders still
insist that the fleece is the most i'm
portant part OF the sheep, and gener-
ally commence their inquiry for sire
to place at the head OF their flock
with the question; What will he
shear?n And II this can be answered
with large number OF pounds a sale
IS made Il is well known 20 expert
enced feeders that the heaviest feeeed
sheep generally do not feed as well as
those that are OF lighter fleece
While I would have our mutton sheep
carry good feeces OF excellent quality
yet ! fear that we are striving to
make the fleece a leading factor, and
like the Merino breeders will wake
up some day to ind that we have
placed too much stress on wool and
have allowed the constitution. good
feeding quality. prepotency and the
capacity to breed and feed well high
per centage OF choice lambs 10 depart
from our fiocks- Early maturity is a
necessity and s5cb animals or breeds
as develop into proper form quickly
should be sought after The South
down Shropshire Oxford Down,
Dorset and Leicestersbire are breeds
that lead of in this respect