Transcription

109
THE BREEDING OF MERINO SHEEP

 

IMPERIAL ESTABLISHMENT AT RAMBOUILLET

The above named establishment for the breeding of the pure Merino Sheep has been in existence for nearly seventy years, during which time the greatest possible attention has been generally bestowed to mention the Merinos in the highest state of Cultivation.
In the year 1786 the King of Spain made a present to the King of France a small stock of Merinos, whereupon their arrival in France were sent to the farm Connected with the domains of the Royal Castle of Rambouillet, where the Stock has since received every Care in order to keep it up in its original perfection or improve it if possible - The establishment at Rambouillet is about thirty miles from Paris -
In judging of the excellence of particular animals, the following points seem to be most particularly attended to - The horn is much looked to in determining value and open horns, not too closely placed together in the head  are especially esteemed. the expression of the eye

should be placid & mild: the look on the face and neck - At the top of the head, & and where the head and neck join, there is a pad of gristle - this is hard and slightly moveable in its place - This development increases with the age of the buck, and is another element in judging of value, being an indication of energy & constitution -
The form of the body of the Merino in most esteem may best understood from the following measurements, which are those of the best specimens of bucks -

BUCK TWENTY THREE MONTHS OLD

Height of Shoulder              31 inches
Length of body from tip
of tail to the horns               32 inches
Breadth of horns                 22    "
Length of head                    13    "
Girth of body                        43   "
Breadth of hocks
Length of quarters
Girth of foreleg above knee
Girth below the knee             3¾ "

BUCK TWENTY MONTHS OLD
                                               30     inches
                                               30       "
                                               20       "
                                               11       "
                                               40½    "
                                                 8½    "
                                                 9       "
                                                 9       "
                                                 3 5/8 "
The average weight of the four quarters, after

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