The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-04-07
CROSS-DREEO|NG OF
PURE BRED SHEEP

Editor Advertiser: ! would like to
state my views in reference to cross
ing pure-bred sheep, to any of your
readers interested in the subject.
In ordinary merino sheep focks the
weight of the fleece is naturally in
creased with the long-wool cross. In
one instance to my knowledge an aver
age of 3.3 pounds of wool per sheep
for an entire flock was increased by the
first cross to 4.5 pounds, and by the
second cross to Al pounds. The first
and second cross gave the best wool,
which made good price. The staple
of the wool in these two crosses Is
longer than the merino, but retains its
softness. Subsequent crosses add to
the weight and length Of the fleece, but
it loses its fneness. The mutton with
the first cross of the long wool increases
rapidly in weight Each succeeding
cross loses flavor and gains in weight.
Crossing with Lincoln breeds makes a
marked Improvement on the carcass,
which shows more of the mutton type
as compared with the merino. The
back is straighter and wider, and the
ribs more rounded and the body gen
orally carries more flesh. In the second
and subsequent crosses the plumpness
of the thigh is noticeable, and the NUT
ton is considerably improved. So far
as the wool Is concerned, the most
striking feature in the first cross,
with the best wooded sheep of the Lin
coin breed is the eyenness and density
of the fleece obtained with no marked
difference in weight, and only slight
inferiority in quality to that of the
merino. In the second and subsequent
crosses, the fleece gains in weight and
length, and TO some extent loses IN fine
ness and merino character.
The consensus of opinion points to
the wisdom of taking one cross only,
and that with purebred rams. The
proper care and selection OF suitable
sires, good ewes and other necessary
qualities. the breeder secures the hardy
early. matured sheep, distinct i'm
provement on its parents, and covered
with a uniform class of fine, even wool,
which is greatly sought after. In the
second class uniformity is not easy to
secure and the result Is rarely salts
factory; and should a further cross be
decided on, it is better to take another
pure breed. and so infuse two-thlrds or
Lincoln blood on the merino founda-
ton. For example, first cross long-wooi
ram on the merinO eve; second, cross
short-wo ram on long merino eve. Tx
cellent earlv-maturing lambs is the re-
suit. of about 40 to 45 pounds from this
cross, and with due care IN the selection
OF rams. fleece of good weight re-
suits. which makes considerably more
than the coarse cross-bred wool. Grade
rams should never be used for crossing,
as experience has proved that IN only
exceptional cases that cross-bred slres
can transmit their own good qualities
to their offspring, while their bad
points are only too pronounced. The
fact that the good or bad features are
so marked in the offspring explains the
necessity of obtaining well-bred rams,
all of a similar class of fine. even wool.
II is only thus that the breeder can
reasonably look for a clip of wool OF
the same class aud staple. Carelessness
in this direction would produce bad re-
suits. and no two fleeces IN the clip
would be of similar character. In Sc
lecting sires. it must he always re-
membered that ANTIQUITY of breeding
Is excellence of breeding.
T. =, D. WALKER.