SHEEP RAISING _ 165 



year and see if there isn't room for at least 100% more. You'll get fleece, 

 lambs and mutton for your trouble. 



COST TO FEED One man in the central west got 49 ewes to start 



50 sheep $100 with ancl * good ram, making a flock of 50. From 



60 lambs 52 these he raised 60 lambs, which is a low estimate. 



These 60 lambs he sold at $6.00 per head, netting 



Total $152 f r lambs $360. From his 50 sheep he sheared 400 



Profit in wool Ibs. f wool, which is a fair estimate. This he sold 



400 Ibs. at23c.$ 92 at tne then market price of 23c, netting for wool 



60 lambs $6 360 $92.00. It cost him for grain and pasture for the 



, flock of 50 sheep $100, grain for the lambs $52. 



Xotal $452 His total expense (not counting labor) was $152. 



Less feed 152 He sti11 nad nis flock of sheep, and in the bank an 

 extra $300. 



Profit $300 (Actual figures "E. K." in Indiana Farmer.) 



HOME GROWN FEED Here's another man with a 320 acre farm, rais- 

 "Side Issue" Profit $677 ing grain, with sheep just as a "side issue." 



From 80 ewes he clipped wool to the tune of 



$120. From 80 ewes he raised 80 lambs, which he fattened for market on 

 screenings, weight 90 Ibs. at 6c per lb., the 80 lambs bringing $432. This 

 careful farmer found also evenly distributed over his farm the most valu- 

 able of all live-stock manure, which he estimated at 25 tons and $5 a ton, 

 making an increase to his land of $125 value. Friend E. K. didn't give his 

 flock any credit for distributing fertilizer; but we know he got the benefit 

 on his land. There can't be any real farming without this valuable return 

 to the soil; and scientists all give credit to sheep for giving back 80% of 

 what they get out of it in grazing. 



HOW TO START For the average farmer 10 or a dozen ewes will be best 

 to start with, purchased from good healthy nearby 



stock. Then he can increase from year to year until his flock is of the 

 size that he can best handle. Let him combine with some neighbor to 

 market his wool and lambs until such time as he has 50 or 60 ewes. The 

 wool and lambs from this size flock can always be marketed to advantage. 

 To end with success start out with vigorous lambs. Select good strong 

 mothers for the breeding flock, good milkers and such as have a dense 

 fleece that will give the breeding animal plenty of protection. It is well 

 not to keep a breeding ewe after she is too old to make thrifty gains in 

 return for feed and care. In selecting ewes, pick out those that run 

 quickly and show physical exuberance. It's good to see a young ewe that 

 gives an occasional leap up into the air just because she feels like it. Don't 

 sell her. She'll bring vigorous offspring. Never sell anyone your best 

 the best is only good enough for you. Sell your poorest. Look over the 

 flock and cull the ewes showing poor teeth or marks of poor breeding, or 

 those you know are not good milkers at lambing. Remember this is 

 where it's true that most of the labor in caring for sheep is head \vork, not 

 with hands. 



GOING UP! When you've started right keep on going. Stick to the 

 breed you selected. You can grade up, up. It doesn't take 

 long to breed a flock to a high standard mostly headwork again, not 

 physical labor, 



