Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-01-16

OcrAs, Par1es ne.
What Constitutes q Good Sheep.
(Bul etins Of U. 8. Department of Agriculture.
"The value of good blood has been en-
pbasized. Not all the animals belong
ing to any OF the improved breeds, how
ever, are possessed of high degree o
excellence. No graver error can b.
made than the assumption OF uniform
excellence in the stock constituting an.
breed, no matter how much prominence
| 1t may have attained. Individual ami
mails always differ more than breeds
aud there are relatively few really goot
animals in any breed. This seems to b.
strikingly true of the mutton sheep
The chief trouble in mutton production
is and always has been the scarcity o
stock sheep, particularly sires. that hav'
sufficient merit to f1ll the standard o.
excellence for a strictly prime carcass
Until we reach this higher degree Of ex
celleuce the mutton sheep will mo-
assume It's rightful place in American
agriculture. The American market hal
become the most discriminating in the
world on beef products, and 1T will de-
mand q corresponding superiority ir
mutton. With this in view brief con.
sideration of what constitutes . good
mutton sheep may be OF interest.
First, let there be pronounced mas.
culinity in the male and femininity in
the female. Sheep should be neither
sexless nor characterless. They should
bear the stamp and character Of the
breed they represent. This breed char
acter is a mark of good blood, and II
should be manifest in unmistakable
manner. The sire should be impressive,
resolute and Of noble bearing. BE
should be distinctly the head of the
fi"ck in every sense of the word. To
meet these requirements he must have
good constitutional and vital powers.
Without these NO animal IL fit to head
q herd or flock. In selectinga sire, look
first at the head. II deficient there,
look no further. but reject at once. In
sist upon a head that faces you boldly
with wide face, a clear, prominent eye
and robust character throughout. The
head should be joined to a well-filled,
round. muscular neck, wide at the poll
duu UdCk VI tho 0oio oou ssooooiy
in all lines to a strong,
full junction at the shoulder, as seen
from top, sides, or bottom. This should
be accom- panied by a wide chest, a
prom nent, well-filled brisket, and full
heart girth, giving straight, even lines
from the shoulders back. A depression,
either in front of or behind the shoulder,
whether at the top, side, or bottom line
ia an indication OF weakness. The back
should be strong, wide, and we'll meated
from shoulder point to tail. The hind
quarters should be full and we'll let down
in the leg and flank, in order to yield
we'll of high priced meat. The legs
should be placed wide apart and stand
straight. Sickle shaped hooks and
weak, sloping pasterns afford sufficient
reason for condemning an otherwise
good sheep"
ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD FLEECE.
"The modern mutton sheep must also
be wool producer. Our future wool
supply must come largely from sheep
grown primarily for mutton. 1t is essen
tisl, then, that mutton sheep have a
good fleece as we'll as good carcass.
This combination is both practicable
and profitable; and 1t Is no longer re-
garded necessary to grow one sheep for
q fleece, another for q carcass, and an
other for lamb. The intelligent flock
master combines them all In one class.
Some of the best mutton sheep are pro-
ducing as profitable feeces as those
kept exclusively for wool and their
lambs are decidedly superior. One Of
the first essentials In good fleece is
compactness or density. This quality
not only insures better yield of wool,
but 1t affords better protection against
storm and indicates harder animal,
better able to stand exposure. A close,
even, dense fleece with no breaks should
cover all parts of the body, including
the head, limbs, and under parts. The
in improvement of the wool
qualities of all modern breeds
has been toward carrying the fleece
more completely over the head, face,
limbs, and lower line. The advantage
is not so much In the increased yield Of
wool grown on these parts, as that is of
little consequence, but in the accom-
panying tendency to larger and better
yield of wool in all parts. A barefaced
and barelegged sheep is always rela-
lively light shearer, and in contrast with
this the sheep wooled from the eyes to
the toes always yields heavy fleece
and the wool is generally of better
quality than from those having a scanty
covering.
"Fineness, length and strength Of
fiber are essential qualities In q good
fleece that should always have promi-
nent consideration in the selection of
breeding stock, as these qualities largely
the market value. Neglect or
undue exposure of the flock, period of
sickness, or anything that induces un-
thrift and impaired vitality invariably
results in diminishing both the length
and strength of fibre. Well fed sheep
always produce the most and best wool.
Softpess and pliancy Of wool usually
correspond in degree with fineness.
and dryness are always detri-
mental to the quality, even IL the fibre 10
otherwise good. As rule, this con-
dition may be taken as an indication Of
poor breeding, although it may be due
to disease, old age, or improper treat
msnt. Generally, a fleece begins to de-
cline in value aud yield after sheep be-
comes years old. SOftness and pill
ancy are to considerable extent due to
the secretions of the skin. A clear pink
or yellowish skin Is an indication of
good quality of wool, while pale or
blush skin is generally accompanied by
an inferior fleece. The yolk 10 the oily
which gives color, softness,
pliancy, and luster to the fleece. The
composition of the yolk consists of
soapy matter, principally animal oil and
potash, which promotes the growth of
the fleece and prevents friction, wearing
Of the flbers, and cottiDg. Good feeding,
shelter, and care promote liberal score
ton of yolk, while exposure and alkali
soils result In injury to wool by diminish
ing the yolk. A liberal secretion of yolk
10 favorable to the production OF . good
fleece, but the yolk should be clear and
and not too thick and gum
my. In addition to these qualities, a
fleece should possess the properties OF
evenuess and uniformity; this refers to
density, and quality. A good
fleece should be as nearly uniform In all
parts as practicable. Avoid the feeces
that run to coarse, kenny fibres at the
thighs and along the lower line. The
best grade and quality of wool is found
on the rear part of the shoulder, and the
nearer all other parts Of the fleece meas.
ure up to this standard in length and
fiueness OF finer the higher will be its
value. Wrinkles or folds OF tn, skin
about the neck or other parts of the body
are detrimental, as tho wool that grows
within these folds is unlike the other
parts Of the fleece, and there is . conse-