Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-15
The Shropshire Most Popular.

In the consideration of breeds fol
this section. it is probable that q
great many nave seen very few othel
breeds than the Shropshire. In q
book on sheep it says that the home
of this far famed breed was in the
England. The immediate ancestors
of the Shropshires were the black and
brown faced horned sheep, commonly
known as the Morfe Common sheep
1t now has a mingling of the blood OF
Leicester, Cotswold and SouthdoWn
breeds; the two first give a little more
size, while the good mutton qualities
of the Shropshire are undoubtedly
due in a large measure to the South
isfactorily improved by selection.
good care and intelligent mating, and
in this country today they stand as
one of the leading breeds of medium
wool sheep, and are perhaps more
widely distributed throughout the
states than any other breed. Mature
rams should weigh from 200 pounds
to 225 pounds. and ewes from Ito
pounds to 200 pounds. They are
compactly built. well-proportioned
sheep. showing good. strong constitu.
tons and we'll filled quarters. and
carrying an excellent fleece. They
should be wooled we'll down over the
nose, and the portion of the nose not
covered with the wool shuld be black
in color, as should be the lower part
of the legs.
AS a mutton sheep they a be
strongly recommend. being good feed
ers and giving excellent returns Tor
the feed consumed. They cross re-
markedly well with the common types
of sheep. and a majority of the lambs
found in our markets today carry
more or less of the blood of this
breed. They are fairly prolific. should
average at least a lamb and a halt
per eve. and will easily shear enough
wool to pay for their feed for a year.
A well-kept flock should average at
least twelve pounds of WOOL.
The Rambouillct.
pronounced Ram-bo-la.)
Rambouillet sheep were first intro
duced into America in 1S4O. but it has
only been during recent years that
they have attained much favor or
have become widely distributed
bouillet breed originated on the roEai
French estate 1t the village of Ram
bouillet, hear Paris, and it is from
this estate that they take their pres
ent name. About 1885 Louis kEl OF
France had imported from Spain 400
head of the hest Spanish Merino
sheep that could be bought in n a
country. These were taken direct to
the royal farm near R~ambouillet, and
descending from this flock we have
our R~ambouillet breed Of today.
These sheep differ from their Spanish
ancestors in h they are larger,
more hardy and vigorous. present bet
ter carcass of mutton. are freer from
wrinkles and folds in the skin. and
respond more readily to good food.
The breed today in this country is
the heaviest Of the ine-wool breeds.
but is. perhaps. a little lighter than
the average of the wool
breeds. Mature males should weigh
are a few cases on record where they
have weighed as much as 800 pounds.
The ewes should weigh from $50
pounds to 175 pounds. In appear
ance they present rather coarse fea-
lures about the head, the rams es-
pecially being rather inclined to
Roman noses. The head should be
covered we'll to the point of the nose
with wool. and a portion of the nose,
if not covered with wool. should have
a. covering of soft, silky white hair.
The rams are heavily horned. while
the ewes should be hornless. The
neck should be comparatively short
and. free from wrinkles and folds
Such, folds are Objectionable, especial
ly at shearing time. as they make the
work of shearing difficult and produce
. an. uneven clip of wool. All parts OF
the body should be covered with a
fine. even, dense fleece. and the COW
ering of wool should extend to the
ton Of the hoof. Their fine fleece en-
ables them to Withstand severe storms
much better than sheep of the medi-
UNI or long-wool types. They are es-
pecially desirable for the western
ranges. as they are good rustlers and
will stand herding in large f1ocks.
Lambs of this breed. when put into
feed lots in the corn-belt regions. re.
spond fairly we'll to their feed and
usually make satisfactory gains.
The Southdowns.
This is one of the oldest of ou1
p~ure-bred breeds of sheep. 1t takes
its name from a long line of chalk
hills in the southern parts of Eng.