86 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. [Chap. I. 



Another writer says : " Tlie usual rate of the consumption of food is at 

 the rate of 3^ lbs. of hay daily for every 100 lbs. of live weight. If we take 

 tlio average of flocks, the live weight of 100 common sheep would be about 

 7,500 lbs., or from that up to 8,000 lbs. It is rare tliat a whole Hock of 

 fine-wooled sheep will average more tlian 70 lbs. for each head, though it may 

 be that this weight is exceeded in some instances. At the rate mentioned, 

 a flock of 1()0 sheep should use up or consume 280 lbs. of hay per day, or a 

 total of 25 tuns in tlie winter season that lasted 180 days. This would also 

 equal 504: lbs. to each single sheep ; or it may be stated as a general rule, 

 that a full-grown Merino sheep, averaging in live weight from 75 to 100 lbs., 

 will coiisumc during the winter season a quarter of a tun of hay, or its equiv- 

 alent, if comfortably kept. If grain forms a part of the ration, of course 

 some of the hay may be saved ; but if the atiimal is to be kept growing 

 wool, it will need its full ratio of hay,, and a little grain, too." 



lis. fhailgiug Pasture. — Some sheep-farmers arc very particular about 

 changing pastures. This is right, if the inclosures are small. If there is a 

 wide range, it is of no particular advantage to confine sheep to one portion 

 of if, and then shift them to another. 



lit*. Feeding Sheep vs. Beeves. — Mechi, who is a highly enlightened and 

 practical English agriculturist, says he is convinced that beef must sell at 

 20 per cent, higher than mutton to make them pay alike. Ue also remarks, 

 that he agrees with a friend of his, who says, that he who keeps many bul- 

 locks will never need to make a will. 



Our observai<ion in relation to the comparative profits in this country 

 coincides with Mr. Mechi. 



Thos. Bell, of Monmouth County, IST. J., makes the following statement in 

 regard to the profits of feeding sheep : 



" I usually keep about 100 sheep, and renew my flock every year. My 

 neighbors and myself agree with a drover to take certain numbers, and he 

 goes up the Delaware into the State of Kew York, where he obtains a large 

 strain of common sheep. I buy the best ones in the flock, paying tlie high- 

 est market price, which this year was $3 50 a head, while my neighbors prefer 

 to take the lower-priced sheep, graduating down to $2 50 or $2 25 a head. I 

 get my new flock in about the 1st of October, and immediately put the ewes to 

 full-blood Southdown bucks^so as to have the lambs dropped early in April. 

 I have good autumn pasture, so as to keep the flock in good condition to go 

 into winter quarters, where I keep them in yards with open sheds, fifty sheep 

 in a pen, with feeding-racks, and freedom to lay under cover or out in the 

 open weather. Their own instinct governs them about seeking shelter when 

 it storms. I feed the flock once a day upon hay, and once a day upon whole 

 stalks of Indian corn cut from the ground as soon as it is hard enough to 

 ripen in the shock, when the shocks are well cured, and afterward the com 

 is husked and stalks stored for winter. The sheep trim them of leaves, 

 and the dry stalks make good bedding for them. I watch my ewes and take 

 them out of the flock as the time approaches to drop their lambs, and put 



