FOR SHOW RING AND MARKET. 143 



Lambs usually commence to eat at from ten to twenty 

 days old. A portion of the barn should be partitioned off 

 to be used as a feeding ground for them. Creeps must be 

 so fixed that the lambs may have access to grain rations, etc.,, 

 without danger of molestation from the ewes. Both ewes and 

 lambs should be fed carefully, liberally and punctually. I 

 have found February the banner month for the disposal of 

 really fat, plump spring lambs. I have found it profitable 

 to dress my own lambs. (See chapter on Dressing Sheep 

 and Lambs for Market, page 205) 



A well-fed Dorset lamb should dress anywhere from 25 to- 

 35 pounds at about 10 weeks old. An American breeder of 

 Dorsets claims to have dressed lambs of that breed that at 

 the age of two months dressed 40 pounds. A truly commend- 

 able showing for both breed and breeder. 



Desirable Markets. 



There is always ready sale for neat, first-class spring- 

 lambs. All first-class hotels and restaurants are on the watch 

 for something above par along this line something that will 

 tickle their patrons' palates. I have never experienced any 

 difficulty in getting ten dollars per head for really prime 

 lambs dressing from 25 to 35 pounds per head. In fact, at 

 one particular season the demand far exceeded the supply. 

 Ten dollars seems an exorbitant price for such dainty mor- 

 sels, but even at this figure the profits from such a source 

 are sometimes small, and where the feeder is not thoroughly 

 attentive and faithful to his business the profit will be, prob- 

 ably, nothing at all. Ewes whose mission is that of early 

 lamb-raising should be coupled with the ram not later than 

 the first week in July. Lambs will then appear thick and 



