FARM ANIMALS 271 



in breeding up grade ewes for early lambs have 

 been obtained from crossing Dorset rams on Meri- 

 no, Shropshire or Coltswold ewes. The demand 

 for winter lambs is rapidly increasing after having 

 first originated in some of the large eastern markets. 

 At present the supply is hardly equal to the demand 

 although the prices paid for such lambs are very 

 attractive. Tnus, lambs at a weight of fifty or 

 sixty pounds and in prime condition may be sold 

 for from $3 to $18, depending on the quality of 

 the lamb and the time at which he is marketed. 

 Such prices cannot be obtained for lambs if kept 

 several months longer, although in the meantime 

 they have gained considerably in weight. 



The vigour of the sheep, and climatic conditions, 

 must be considered in this business. While it is 

 possible to get Dorsets to breed at any time, in 

 practice there are certain seasons which are far 

 better than others. Thus, if the sheep are bred in 

 May or June they will bring the lambs to the finest 

 market condition during the holiday season when 

 the highest prices will be realized. Winter lambs 

 are marketed at the age of about two months and 

 at this time, as already hinted, should weigh about 

 fifty pounds. 



In order to force winter lambs to the finest ap- 

 pearance, it is desirable to give the ewe a rather 

 heavy grain ration to increase her milk yield. 

 While the Dorset gives a larger quantity of milk 

 than other sheep they, nevertheless, require milk 

 producing foods in order to keep up this flow. For 

 this reason the grain ration should be liberal and 

 should be helped out by the use of roots, silage or 

 soiling crops like alfalfa, clover, rye, or by a good 

 pasture. Moreover, the lambs should be taught 

 to eat grain at the earliest possible moment. They 



