The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-12-18
Sheep Breeders Should Establish A
Type.

Flock owners should direct more
attention to sorting and selecting
their breeding stock to establish type
in their flocks. The greatest profit in
the sheep business, either for the
market or breeding purposes, comes
to the flock-owner who produces the
type and quality of stock most in de-
mand. No fiock-owner can achieve
the greatest success unless he pro-
duces stock of uniform and superior
quality. The market on every hand
is flooded with low average grade
of stock that possesses neither type
nor uniformity. This class of stock
to large measure governs market
prices. The flock-owner who gives
special attention to the selection of
his breeding stock is decidedly han
dicapped in marketing his output be-
cause of the fact that he must face
an established market that is based
on an inferior type. This indiscrim-
mate market quality of live stock
causes an annual loss that reaches
well up into the thousands of dollars
to the sheep-raising industry of this
country.
There are few essential qualities
that should be carefully considered in
selecting type of sheep for the pro-
duction of mutton for the market.
In the first place we want q sheep
that possesses strong constitution.
Many flock-owners are misled in Sc
lecting their breeding stock, thinking
that strong constitution is confined to
large framed sheep. This is not al
ways true, and generally quite far
from it, In the majority of instances
it will be found that the sheep that
possesses great depth and width in
the forequarter is Of rather medium
size. In my flock / have found that
my most vigorous ewes are somewhat
below the average in size. The body
in general should be well proper
toned. We do not want sheep of too
great length of body. The ribs
should be well sprung giving plenty
of space for the digestive and res
piratory organs. The fleece should
not be lost sight Of A dense cover
ing is a prime requisite. The wool
should be of good quality and length
In the selection of a ram great
deal can be accomplished in the way
of establishing type in the flock.
Each eve influences establishing typc
to the extent of transmitting to her
progeny her desirable characteristics
while the ram eXerts an influence
over every lamb produced in the
flock. The ram should be selected
with great regard to strengthening
the weaker qualities in the ewes. In
general terms, the ram should pos
sess much stronger evidence of the
type to be established in the flock
than found in the ewes, that he may
not only strengthen the weaker quail
tiles in the latter, but permanently
establish theM in the progeny. The
ram, if possible, should be selected
from a flock that has been bred for
number of years along the line desir-
ed to be perpetuated. A ram select
ed from flock that has been care
fully bred along certain line is al
most sure to transmit to his progeny
many of his strongest characteristics
Few hock-owners seem to fully
realize how important it is to estab-
lish uniform type in the flock. If the
lambs are grown for market purposes
much better price can be realized
for the entire crop. Wool buyers
are always ready to pay the highest
market price for a uniform grade of
wool.
Uniformity of type should ever be
the aim of the flock-owner who would
make the largest net profit, and in
order to attain the highest degree of
success some well-establishe breed
should be selected as foundation
and the flock constantly improved by
good methods of breeding, feeding
and selection.-Geo. G. Reynolds in
Michigan Farmer.