148 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



lambs if they are designed to be kept upon the farm, 

 and such ram lambs as may be worth keeping, 

 should be separated from the others and fed differ- 

 ently. They may have all the oats and bran they 

 wish and some soybeans, but are the better for hav- 

 ing very little corn. It is best if they have the run 

 with their mothers of a field and learn early to seek 

 part of their food outside, whereas the ones destined 

 for market will grow as well and fatten quicker to 

 have their range much restricted. 



The shepherd should keep close watch on the ewes, 

 for there will come a time when they are no longer 

 milking freely and then they will put their food on 

 their backs. Bather than fatten them to their harm, 

 unless they are to go to market, the grain should be 

 gradually cut down and it will be found that the 

 lambs at this time will take more each day. 



When the fattening lambs are a few weeks old 

 they love to shell off corn from the ear and crack it 

 with their own teeth. They should have opportunity 

 to do this. 



In fact, when they are six weeks old it is hardly 

 worth while to shell or grind any more corn for 

 them. They prefer it fresh shelled by their own 

 teeth. It is folly to spend time in doing things that 

 the lambs delight in doing for themselves. 



DRESSING LAMBS FOR FANCY WINTER MARKET. 



When the lambs reach a weight of 50 to 60 pounds 

 or even less if they are very fat the fancy New York 

 market will pay for them from $3 to $1.2 each if sent 



