158 FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 



The full blood Merino produces as good mutton as 

 the ordinary country and western Merino grade, if 

 killed as young and in as good condition. I have 

 never discovered that it did not fatten as easily. It 

 costs no more, in proportion to weight of carcass, to 

 keep it. Its wool is worth from a third to a half more 

 per head. Wherever, therefore, it is profitable to 

 grow the common grade sheep, partly for mutton and 



thus bringing the lambs the first part of February. They are made to 

 grow and fatten as rapidly as possible, and are turned off to the butcher 

 when they reach 40 pounds in weight. They are thus all disposed of 

 by the first of June, and the ewes have the entire summer to fatten 

 in. The sheep are bought usually a few weeks before the ram is to 

 be turned with them, and have cost from $2.50 to $3.00 each. They 

 are kept iipon hay alone until just before the lambing time, when a 

 daily feed of turnips is given. After the lambs come they are given 

 also a feed of meal or bran slop. A place is partitioned off for the 

 lambs, and they are regularly fed. The feed going directly to the 

 lamb, makes growth of fat with more profit, in my opinion, then when 

 given through the mother's milk. I cannot say with any certainty 

 what the percentage of increase with my common sheep has been, as 

 when possible to find any one to take a twin lamb, it is always given 

 away, that its mate may have the better chance one good one bring- 

 ing in the early season a corresponding price, when poor ones cannot 

 be at all disposed of. They never, however, average less than 100 per 

 cent, of sale sheep. * * * * The lambs go to market from 

 two and a half to three months old, and have, of course, at that early 

 age to be in fine condition to bring the price they should do, or in fact 

 even to meet a sale. My own have always averaged me $5 per head, 

 bringing more when first sent off, and less later in the season. The 

 ewes having only to provide for themselves during the summer, are 

 by fall in very good condition and require a very little grain (which is 

 first fed to them as soon as the frost injures the grass) to fit them for 

 a good market. They have always averaged $5 also. To this is to 

 be added the fleece, when you will see the return has always been a 

 good one. It, to be sure, costs more and requires more care and atten- 

 tion to fit lambs for the early market, but the extra price they bring 

 and the better chance which is given the ewes to fatten by getting off 

 their lambs so soon, much more than compensate." 





