8 



FARMERS BULLETIN 840. 



per acre. On pastures suitable for either cattle or sheep five ewes 

 may be considered the equivalent of one cow or steer, and the winter 

 feed required for one breeding cow not in milk would be equivalent 

 to that needed for about eight ewes. 



STARTING THE FLOCK. 



TIME TO START. 



Late summer or early fall is the most favorable time to make a 

 start in sheep raising. Ewes can be procured more readily at this 

 time, and when purchased can be kept on meadows, grain stubble 

 fields, or late-sown forage crops to get them in good condition for 

 breeding. Experience with the ewes through fall and winter will 

 also render a beginner more capable of attending to them at lambing 

 time. It is seldom possible to buy any considerable number of bred 

 ewes at reasonable prices. 



SELECTION OF STOCK. 



The inexperienced sheep raiser should begin with grade ewes of 

 the best class available and a pure-bred ram. The raising of pure- 

 bred stock and the selling of breeding rams can best be undertaken 

 by persons experienced in sheep raising. The selection of the type 

 and breed of sheep should be made by considering the class of pas- 

 ture and feeds available and the general system of farming to be 

 followed, along with the peculiarities of the breeds and the condi- 



FIG. 2.. A good type of a pure-bred mutton 



