BULLETIN NO. 214] [MAY, 1913 



Ontario Department of Agriculture 



LIVE STOCK BRANCH 



Sheep Raising in Ontario 



DOES IT PAY? 



" Sheep Kaising iu Ontario— Does it Pay ?" was the question which the Ontario 

 Sheep Breeders' Association wished to have answered in a manner which would be 

 satisfactory to all concerned. While every other class of live stock was increasing 

 and receiving increased attention from ithe farmers of the Province, sheep were 

 receiving less attention each succeeding year, and were decreasing in numbers, 

 having decreased from 1,797,313 in 1900 to 1,040,245 in 1911. 



To be able to give a satisfactory answer to this question and to promote a 

 greater interest in sheep raising throughout the Province, it was felt that it would 

 be an advantage to have a number of Illustration Stations located at different 

 points throughout the Province, with the object of demonstrating the profits which 

 could reasonably be expected under ordinary conditions from a small flock of 

 grade ewes. The co-operation of the Live Stock Branch of the Ontario Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture was obtained in this work and a grant received to defray the 

 cost of supervising the work. 



The following is the general outline of the work which was recommended: 



1. That there should be eight demonstration stations as follows: (a) Six 

 stations located at different points throughout the Province where lambs should be 

 dropped not earlier than April 20th, and marketed during the following winter; 

 (6) one station located in Muskoka devoted to raising of summer lambs, and (c) 

 one station located near Toronto devoted to raising early lambs. 



2. That the flock at each station should consist of from ten to twelve good 

 grade ewes to be owned and supplied by the person in charge of the station, and 

 a pure-bred ram to be supplied by the Department. 



3. That each station should be in charge of a good average farmer with ex- 

 perience in the handling of grade sheep, and who was able to supply suitable 

 accommodation for the flock, and who would agree to keep accurate account of all 

 expenses of feeding and care, and make detailed report of same as required. 



4. That the person in charge of the work should be encouraged to keep some 

 of his best ewe lambs for the improvement of the flock. 



5. That the rams should represent Shropshire, Southdown, Dorset Horn, Hamp- 

 shire, Oxford, Leicester, Lincoln, and Cotswold. 



6. That the general supervision of the work should be placed in the hands of 

 two inspectors who should be expert sheep men. 



