The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-19
DORSET And RAMBOUILLET
a STRONG COMPARISON Be
TWEEN RESPECTIVE BREEDS
Resemblance Between Each-The
RambouifIet Larger Than the
Dorset--Ram of the Latter SUI
periGr to That of the Former
Distinctions Between Mutton and
MooI-Rearing Classes.

While the sheep growing industry is be-
coming so prominent throughout the North
west, comparisons between breeds are in
structive from any intelligent standpoint.
There was recently supplied by Joseph E.
Wing TO the Breeders Gazette, very COM
prehensive view OF the representative merits
of the DorsetS and the Ramboullets The fol-
lowing some of Mr.. Wings views:
l am aware that what | am about to say
is apt TO call down upon me not little crit
cism, both from breeders of Dorsets and
breeders of Rambouillets. Nevertheless l
shall take the ground that they have a COM
mon ancestry and that not very remote
Let US note some of the resemblances. TAX
ing first into consideration the form, We find
in the Rambouilet of the highest mutton type
much to remind US of the Dorset There is
the characteristic slight drop behind the
shoulders. there is the sturdy bone, the gen.
eral muscularity of contour, and large di-
gestive organs Comparing the ewes the re-
semblance is perhaps more marked than in
the case of the rams. The Dorset eve IS
large in the hips with great pelvic capacity
and large udder. The same is true Of the we'll
bred Rambouillet. 1t is not uncommon to find
ewes that err on the side of giving too much
milk rather than not enough. Rsmbouiilet
ewes sometimes although not generally, have
horns. Dorset ewes, 50 far as | know, are
always horned. The maternal instinct in
each race is strong; stronger probably in the
Dorset. The Rambouilet exceeds the Dorset
IN size although / think the average size Of
the Dorset exceeds that of the Ramhou,llet
The form of the Dorset although smaller than
the Ramboullet, is admittedly better from
the standpoint of the mutton grower.
One of the strong linked characteristics Of
the two breeds is the lily of the ewes to
conceive and bring forth the lambs in the
fall or early winter. 1t s this characteristic
more than anything else TINT bro G the
Dorset into prominence. The Rambouillet
possesses this characteristic in a lesser de-
gree, yet | have seen some very nice
of fall Rambouillet lambs among my neigh
no M o,, Hat hraa
think | can hear some breeders exclaimi- G:
But the wool mani the wool! How are you
going to dodge thar Now l will not dodge
it at all. l admit the very great divergence.
! do not think it difficult of explanation. What
is the first question an Engl shman ks his
wife? Ave you got hanything to heat
in the 'ouse?" The Frenchman and Spaniard
on the other hand, swa low heir msager
repast with Indifference the question with
backs?" This very difference in meatll att:-
tude of the two nationa'ities IS enough to ac-
count for the difference In the two types Of
sheep. supposing them to have had a common
ten centuries ago. Certain it s that the
Merinos were once kept in Sou hern England,
presumably IN Dorsetshire, and l have rea On
for suspicion that some infusion of Merno
blood may have been made there in Cite
recent times.
An old Merfno BREEDER of long experience
was howing me his flock one day and G virg
me some points of his practice, and thought
i detected III lne HOOK trace Ol u OOu VI
which he was saying nothng-a hood that
could do nothing but improve the flo ,k-and
! asked him pontedly whether he had put
It in. He evaded the question that did
not think that w3s to have any reply, but
at the last moment, as l was leaving him,
he whispered in my ear, Never mix 70 II
blood young man, neXer mix your BLOOD
but when you do mix it put in none but the
BEST
If the Young breeder is ambitious to secure
lasting fame and grateful recognition from
the skerherds of this country, let him take
up/he task of freezing togeth r the tsiood of
the Dorset and the Rambon.n.3l usi~g of
each nothing but the hiSi..e It type that can
be secured. J. may not have then, the ideal
sheep; bit he will have at least the best
sheen for general farm condlt' ons that this
world has yet seen, and that is worth wo:k g