SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 435 



I have found the self-feeder the most economical way to feed, as 

 the labor is very much less, and the work can be done any time of day. 

 The main thing is to keep the feeders filled up, so that you have two 

 or three days' feed ahead all the time. Then, if you have a few days 

 of bad weather, you are always ready for it, and you can also get off from 

 working on Sunday. 



Another thing I practice is topping out my lambs. After feeding 

 about fifty days, we run them through the chute and cut out all the 

 heavy lambs and ship them. Then in about two or three weeks, we run 

 them through again. In this way, we get very even bunches on the mar- 

 ket, and nearly always top the market, as the buyers are looking for a 

 certain weight, and they want them even in size. 



I just want to say a word as to the best kind of lambs to buy. For 

 the corn belt feeder, buy lambs weighing from fifty-five to sixty pounds. 

 I prefer a Merino-Cotswold-Hampshire cross. The Merino blood gives 

 the hardiness and closeness of wool. The Cotswold puts more length 

 to the wool, and the Hampshire gives the bone and size. I don't know 

 where you could get a better combination than this. But be sure to 

 get a healthy, thrifty bunch. Then, if you give them the right care, 

 they will repay you well. 



We have had some trouble with the third and fourth cutting of 

 alfalfa causing death to the lambs this last year; and this coming year 

 I am going to try chopping the first and second cutting and mixing 

 with the grain in self-feeders. In this way, I think they will eat stems 

 and all, and prevent waste of hay. 



Finally, I find that lamb feeding has been a fairly profitable proposi- 

 tion in several ways: 



First, they pick all the corn for me, board themselves, and never 

 charge me a cent for doing it. 



Second, they haul the manure and spread it free of charge, gener- 

 ally picking out the poorest spots to put it on the thickest. 



Third, they do not ask for any shelter, only a good windbreak, which 

 they always find for themselves on our hilly land. 



In the past four or five years, I just turn them in the corn field and 

 never take them out, except when we bring them into the yards to sort 

 them for shipping. 



