CHARACTERISTICS OF LONGWOOLLED SHEEP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3919, 30 May 1877, Page 2

CHARACTERISTICS OF LONGWOOLLED SHEEP.

The following letter, ancl its answer, which appear in tlie Australasian of May 5, will be found interesting to many of our readers : — Sir, — 1. Will you kindly inform a regular subscriber to your valuable paper whether the Romney Marsh or the Border Leicester sheep are best adapted for producing fat lambs fen* the butcher ? 2. Is -~* either of these breeds superior in this respect to the English Leicester, Lincoln, or other long-woolled breeds ? 3. If not, what cross with them would best answer the purpose I 4. Are they superior in hardiness, and more patient of occasional shortness of food than other long-woolled breeds ? Wliich of the two is best adapted for soil of a light and medium quality, and where in winter they would have to get their living " 6. Would a cross between the Romney Marsh ancl Border Leicester or vice versa be juicious ? 7. Which breed has the densest and heaviest fleece . By replying you will greatly oblige many besides Inquirer. Nelson, N.Z. [We are not aware of any grounds for preferring any one of the breeds mentioned to the rest for the production of fat lambs. Border Leicesters enjoy the reputation of being adapted to cool country ; but the Cotswold and old Lincoln breeds are also hardy and inured to cold. The special qualification of the Romney Marsh breed is said to consist of its ability to graze on marshy pastures wliich would be dangerous for others. Wherefore cross the various breeds of long-woolled sheep " It is true that they aro themselves the results of cross-breed-ing and judicious selection, ancl that is the cause of the want of uniformity so generally complained of. The improved Leicester is usually considered the most ""1 tender of the long-woolled breeds ; but ' the improved Lincolns are at least half Leicesters, and so are not nearly as hardy as the old Lincolns. Cotswolds and Romnoy Marsh sheep also have been " improved," and rendered tender by infusions of Leicester blood. If, therefe>ro, hardiness is tho chief consideration, some e)f the old types should be preferred to the improved ones. In referference to the remark about " getting their own living in winter," we suggest that over-stocking should be carefully avoided, and to that end it would be advisable to reduce stock as much as possible in the autumn, — Ed.]