WOOL growers' AssocIATTO^^ 24r> 



SHALL THE FARMER RAISE OR BUY HIS FEEDING LAMBS? 



This subject presents several phases by reasons of the difference 

 existing tliroiitrhout th(> country and State, as to the kind of farm, quality 

 of soils adaptable t(» slu-ep iiuslian<lry and farm manajiement. 



From expeiience and observation in the care of sheep extending over 

 a period of nearly thirty years, the first feature naturally presentins; 

 itself most anywhere in Indiana is, would the farmer lie prei)ared to raisi'. 

 keep and feed slieep, and does he know a sheep from a goatV Tliat is, 

 does he know the distinctive features of the several breeds of sheep, and 

 that type or class the most suitable with his method of farm management, 

 and has he the wlierewith that c(Tiitril)utes more to the i)rotitable suec-ess 

 for handling sheep than all else, that which is the basis and true source 

 for obtaining the Iamb and maintenance to maximum profits, even with 

 other considerations supplemented by feed and care; in this meaning 

 permanent pastures composed of the perennial grasses al>undantly suffi- 

 cient at all times to afford all, or the bulk of feed required for the health 

 and thrift of the animal? 



It is quite certain "William" G., his spouse, Nany G., and the kids, 

 who.se most sumptuous menu is reported to be in the line of sage brusli, 

 cactus, and the tid-bits from any old dump pile, would live, grow, and 

 become erratic upon the cultivated plants of higher civilization, but the 

 flocks and herds of the sheep, whose everj' synonym has been extilted 

 from the category of legends of earliest ages down to the present for 

 yielding fil)re of finest texture and of flesh for the most savory roasts in 

 epicurean tastes, coidd not be expected to take the place of his goatship 

 by reversing the bill of fare, and expect residts commendable with success. 



Yet there are farmers and feeder.s — plenty of them — every year who 

 put their money in sheep, expecting to raise lambs and revenue, wlio 

 give them little more thought of what is rational, reasonable and suitable, 

 tlian if so many goats; consequently many times lamb-feeding is more 

 like a tortuous starving process — a dead failur*'. 



The so-called feeding of lambs for the winter and spring market in 

 this State has proven unsatisfactor.v if not an entire failure with many, 

 and I Iteiifve mainly on account of the unsuitable conditions for main- 

 taining the health and thrift of the too dependent little creature, made 

 .so Ijy extreme methods not in harmony witli his nature. 



Consecpiently we may jterceive the advantages or disadvantages for 

 feeding land)s in tliis State during fall and winter: as in tlic ai)sence of 

 succident feed as supplied in root ci'ops stored and suital)I.v i)repared as 

 tlie balanced ration, in lieu of permanent pasture lands witli an every da.v 

 luii. well as in tlie growing season of tlie year. 



Therefore the faiiiier ])rei);ired for leediiig l.anilis would l>e prepared 

 for raising them and lecomnicnd laising iiis own land»s. and obtaining 

 as mn<h <»f the growtli and piolils as possible; as in doing .so, it is from 



