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Delaine Merino sheep
| Place of Origin | United States |
| Origin | The long, unbroken line of breeding extending back for more than twelve hundred years of sheep bred for one specific purpose, the production of the best wool in the world, and early development under nature's law of "Survival of the Fittest" make the Merino one of the most pre-potent breeds of sheep in the world. The other valuable quantities mentioned are a firmly fixed and transmitted uniformly to their offspring. The fact that a large percentage of the sheep in the world carry Merino blood means that they are the best all around breed the world has ever known. Fads, fancies, or propaganda never could have accomplished this result. Their almost universal acceptance is well merited. The "C" type or Delaine has become the most practical Marino on the average farm and is especially adapted to range sheep production in the Western and Southwestern states. They are found in Texas, New Mexico and California. Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and other states have many flocks, both of purebred and grade Merinos. They are found from coast to coast, from North to South border, and from sea-level desert to mountains of 10,000 feet altitude. |
| Purpose | Fiber |
| Characteristics | The Delaine has a smooth body and is free of wrinkles. The neck is short but sometimes has a dewlap of one or two folds. Such folds in the best specimens are more like an apron and do not extend over the top of the neck. The body may be covered with small welts or corrugations which give density or compactness to the fleece. As the animal grows older they often will disappear. Breeders selecting for extremely smooth body Merinos discriminate against animals carrying "too much skin." Delaine Merino is of medium size. Mature ewes with full fleece average from 125 to 180 pounds. Rams are larger ranging in weight from 175 to 235 pounds. Greater size can be achieved, but is not sought after because it often leads to the production of rangy, long-legged individual with harsh, coarse, short-fibered wool. Breeders are more concerned with producing maximum weight of long, dense, fine fibered fleeces on the backs of smooth sheep of medium size compared to extreme size. The productive life of the Merino is much greater than any other breed. Breeders have choice ewes 10 to 12 years of age that are maintaining their high productiveness. No other wool can compare with the wool of the Merino in its colour, uniformity, strength, density, and fineness. Fleece should be from 2.5 inches to 4 inches long in one year's growth. It should be fine enough to grade from 64's in spinning count to as high as 80's. |
