Feeding Sheep for Market. 147 



more in width of body and also putting on flesh, 

 is actually not growing in size any more after it 

 reaches the age of two years. Wherever practi- 

 cable, it will pay the feeder to secure lambs for 

 feeding, unless, of course, he can get yearlings or 

 two-year-olds at a very low cost, which will enable 

 him to realize a good profit from his investment. 

 Fat lambs are in greater demand on the market 

 than older sheep, and are therefore generally 

 higher in price. 



SELECTION OF FEEDERS. 



In selecting feeders one ought to be very care- 

 ful to get sound, healthy sheep and not buy a lot 

 that is probably infested with internal parasites, 

 as stomach or tape worms, or with scab or foot rot. 

 If the feeder is not watchful he will cut his profit 

 down right at the beginning by losing some of the 

 sheep which were unsound when bought. He 

 should therefore examine their eyes and skin, as 

 has been explained in a previous chapter of this 

 work, in order to make sure that they do not have 

 parasites. Many feeders prefer range sheep to 

 natives, since range sheep are generally free from 

 internal parasites. If they are only infested with 

 ticks or lice they may easily be freed from these 

 pests by dipping them, but it will be a more diffi- 

 cult task to cure them of skin diseases or internal 



