DlVlSIOy OF AMAJAL UifilSAADRY 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



429 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NAPPAN, N.S. 



EEPOFvT CF THE SUPERINTENDENT, W. W. BAIED, B.S.A. 



SHEEP. 



BKEEDING FLOCK. 



Owing to the fact that we were handicapped for pasture and stable room, it was 

 thought best to discontinue for the present the practice of keeping more than one breed 

 of sheep at this Farm. Hence, hi the fall of 1913, the flock of Leicesters was 

 shipped to the Experimental Station, Charlotteto^\^l, P.E.I., and the Shropshires 

 retained, as they were considered the more suitable breed for this district. As part 

 of this flock was getting somewhat aged, and others not of desirable type, it v,-a3 

 decided to dispose of them and purchase a younger and more typical foundation flock. 



This was done in December, 1913, when there were purchased nine ewes, consist- 

 ing of one two-shear, two shearlings and six lambs, all of which were from well-bred 

 stock, in fact, prize winners. These are very uniform and typical of the breed, and 

 especially is this true of the six lambs, which have made excellent development during 

 the winter. 



Three oiily were bred, namely, the two-shear and the two shearlings. We were 

 very unfortunate in losing one shearling ewe on February 23, 1914. Death was caused 

 by wool-ball in paunch. The other two gave three very nice lambs, two ewes and 

 a ram. 



The ram that heads the flock is a very typical sire, " Kelsey's Promise." 



All record of feed, etc., is being kept of this flock in order to demonstrate the 

 profit to be derived from such. Naturallj' it may be expected that the first year is the 

 most expensive one, more especially where the greater percentage of the flock is lambs 

 which do not give any return except the wool and manure. Following is the metliod 

 of feeding and foodstuffs consumed during the remaining part of the year: — 



From December 20 to March 5 they received li pounds hay, G pounds 

 pulped roots, and 3 pound whole oats, per head per day. 



From March 5 to April 1 they received H- pounds hay, 3 pounds whole 

 roots, I pound crushed oats. 



The following table gives the total amounts of each and cost of feed: — 



Bkeedixg Sheep. — Value of food stuffs was : Hay, $8 per ton ; meal, $1.38 per ewt. ; and 



roots and er^ilage, $2 per ton. 



