Volume 71: Macarthur family papers relating to wool and sheep, 1820-1936: No. 115
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[Page 115]
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the quantity of fine Wool produced, from the desire on the part of the proprietors to obtain weight, rather than extreme fineness of fleece.
Friday 11th Decr Weimar
Mr Hagenbruch accompanied us to visit the Grand Duke's Merino Flock.
There are about 1200 Sheep, of very indifferent quality. They are kept in large Stables, & fed principally on Straw.
The Ewes, some of which are lambing, are in moderate condition, by no means, so wretched in their appearance, as I had expected to find German Merinos, from the descriptions I had previously heard.
The Mothers appear to have abundance of Milk, & the Lambs, altho' small, look healthy and lively. The head Shepherd informed us, they usually weaned 250 lambs from 300 Ewes, and that the deaths upon the whole flock, were about ten pr Cent