DORSET HORN SHEEP.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 28, 10 March 1914, Page 11

DORSET HORN SHEEP.

THE BREED DESCRIBED. The Dorsets are one of the ancient breeds of British sheep, which, in comparatively large numbers, have inhabited certain countries in the South of England from time immemorial, being chiefly found in Dorsetshire and 'Somersetshire. Although one of the oldest breeds, little was done for < its improvement until nearly the middle of last century, for it was not until 1862 that the Royal Agricultural Society recognised it as a distinct breed. Dorsets have been introduced into the United States (where there are two breed societies), Canada, New Zealand, and several of the Continental countries. For one respect, the horned sheep of Dorsetshire form a singularly wellmarked race, for, in nearly all the other Down breeds, we find short wool associated with brown faces and legs; but in the Dorset we see a survival of the old white-faced, horned, and shortwoolled sheep. In size, the Dorsets are larger than the Southdowns, but are said not to weigh so well in proportion. The average weight of matured rams in fair flesh is about 2151b, .and., of matured ewes 1651b. They are one of the most adaptable breeds, and appear to do well on either semi-mountainous country or on flats, and even on land that has not been fully drained. The peculiarity which stamps the Dorset sheep is the extreme earliness of their lambing. In England they are put to the ram in April, arid lamb in September, thus producing lambs fit for the table in Decern-, ber, when lamb is a luxury. Not only do the lambs of this breed stand in the front rank in quickly maturing qualities, but they obtain heavy weights at an early age. Another good feature the Dorsets possess is that their grazing qualities are excellent, as they are quick in movement, are possessed of good staying power, and will eat coarser herbage than many other breeds. When well fed, the old ewfes are fit for the butcher almost as soon as the lambs which they suckle, which should be a point in their favour with New Zealand sheep owners. In some instances in the Old Country they are bred from twice a year, and in one lambing will produce from 130 to 180 per cent, of lambs. In fact, from the recent lambing accounts in some of the English live stock papers, the average of twins runs from 40 to 60 per cent.

In regard to their wool-producing powers, full-grown sheep will shear on an average from 61b to 81b, and lambs from 21b to 31b. The wool inclines to fine, and is of medium density, of good colour, ..and carries a fair amount of yolk. Compared with the Southdown, the Dorset is considerably larger, and more rangy in form, longer in head, neck, and body, not so plump relatively in breast, shoulder, and crops, nor" quite so round in spring of rib, while the wool covers less of the head and legs, is longer, a little coarser, and considerably less dense.

, Mr J. Hibbs, formerly of Methven, and now of Otago, has a small flock of this breed.