Sheep, breeds and management (1893) (14779551134)

Identifier: sheepbreedsmanag00wrig (find matches)
Title: Sheep, breeds and management
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Wrightson, John
Subjects: Sheep
Publisher: London, Vinton



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owever, claims themore modest antiquity of 1802 when he states that theMertoun flock was started by his grandfather, Mr. HughScott of Harden, by purchases of ewes from Waddell ofMousin, Burn of Millfield, and Mr. Robson, and to these heafterwards added a number of ewes from Mr. Jobsons flockat Chillingham, Newtoun. The early rams were hired fromthe Culleys, to whom as much as 100 gs. was paid for theiruse for a season. In 1888 Lord Polwarth sold twenty-eightshearling rams at the Kelso sale for an average of ;^36 gs. 3d.,and one for 165 gs., showing the extraordinary estimation inwhich pure descent as well as high quality is held, and bearingout the opinion, which has often been expressed, that thereis no limit to the value of high-bred stock if the correct linesare adhered to. The average of 812 rams from twenty-onenoted flocks at the same sale was £i\ 7s. lod. each. It maynot be out of place to mention that in the same season 138rams of the English Leicester breed made an average of
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THE BORDER LEICESTER. 27 £(i 17s. each, the highest price given being £i^ los. In1890 the average for Lord Polwarths rams was 1^-)^ 19s. 4d. The differences between the Leicester and the BorderLeicester are to be chiefly seen in the head, which in theBorder Leicester is white, and boldly carried, the noseslightly aquiline, the muzzle full, the nostrils wide, and theears erect. The head is clean and free from wool, as ispretty well shown by the fact that they suffer from fliessettling on their polls in summer. The English Leicester,unless trimmed and shaved for show, usually carries a tuftof wool on his head, which protects it from flies, and he isalso woolled in the shanks. The EngHsh Leicester has abluish-white face; whereas the Border Leicesters face isclear white. In carcase the Border Leicester is the largerand longer, and the belly is not quite so full in outline, beingcarried rather more lightly. As to carcase points, these areso similar in all sheep that they may in the prese