Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-21
Notes on Breeds of Sheep

NOGeS on 6T1eUS OF SAS6p
The high price of wool is direct
ing public attention more and more
to the Importance Of sheep husban-
dry. The renewed interest in this
type of animal production is highly
to be commended because wool and
cotton constitute the two greatest
tibers the world has ever known.
and protection of the human body
in winter and cotton during both
stanmer and winter. Without the
aid of these two great fibers civil
ization would not have attained the
development we witness at the pres
ent time, nor would the human race
be clothed as luXuriously and COM
fOrtably as is now observed.
The south has never been noted
for the maintenance of sheep on q
basis commensurate with their needs
either for wool or meat production.
Sheep husbandry. in other words,
constitutes one of our great neglect
ed industries, Nut it would seem as
though a time has arrived in our
history when we must as a matter
of self-defense and as contribu-
ton to the war give more attention
to the raising and maintenance of
sheep. This being true, it is a mat
ter of general interest as to which
type or breed should be selected for
maintenance on the average farm.
III OTuST llldJ our CIlGuIGlG OIL read
erS may be intelligently informed
relative to the characteristics of the
principal breeds of sheep adapted for
maintenance in the south, the fol-
lowing brief summary has been pre-
pared.
Classify the Sheep
Sheep are popularity classified as
the medium wool, the long wool and
the fine wool breeds This, of course,
is a breed which originated in Eng
land, but has long been established
in the United States and in all prob
ability is the most popular of the
mutton breeds. These animals are
fairly compact, with good depth and
are well covered with wool They
mature early and produce a fine
fleece of medium length. They have
a very wide adaptabtlity as to soil
and climatic conditions under which
they will flourish.
The SOuthdOWn, a breed we'll and
favorably known in many sections of
the south, originated in Sussex, Eng
land, and IS undoubtedly one of the
oldest ad most improved breeds of
sheep. They are considered to be
nearest to the perfect mutton type
snort-legccd, smooth, compact and
symmetrical m conformation, and
while they appear to be rather small
and under weight they are very de-
ceiving in this respect and often
kill out a heavier carcass than many
breed is distinguished by it's brown
face and legs. and the fine fleece of
medium wool which it produces.
OF English Origin
The Hampshire sheep, another
standard breed, originated in the
Hampshire district of England. They
are of strong constitution, good size,
and mature early, The rams weigh
when finished about 30a pounds and
the ewes 200 pounds. The yield of
wool varies from to 10 pounds per
animal finn 1t is Of med%m length and
characterized by the Roman nose.
The face and legs are the blacklist
of any of the down breeds. This
breed is well adapted for use on the
grades and purebreds yield fine car
casses of mutton we'll covered with
fleece.
The Oxford sheep originated in OK
ford county, England. They are a
CotswoId This i is iarge breed d the
mature rams weighing from ESQ t.
300 pounds and the ewes from IT'S
to 250 pounds. They are character
lied by the breadth and squareness
are rapid growers when fed we'll
The fleece is long and tends to open
up. This is a heavy bOned breed
with gray fact. in contradictinction
to the black of the Hampshire,
The CheYiot. sheep originated in
Scotland and are adapted to a hill
country. This is a vigorous breed,
having been exposed to many vicis-
STUDIES of weather. They are not
so large as the Oxford, but would
rank rather as medium in so far as
weight is concerned, the yield of
fleece weighing from to 9 pounds.
They are a prolific breed, a large
nercentage of the ewes raising twins.
The fleece is white and the face and
legs smooth and white. They have