SHEEP RAISING FOR BEGINNERS. 



tions and kind of 

 feeding and manage- 

 ment for which each 

 has been especially 

 developed. 1 



It is highly advan- 

 tageous for all, or a 

 majority, of the 

 farms in a neighbor- 

 hood to keep the same 

 breed of sheep, or at 

 least to continue the 

 use of rams of the 

 same breed. After a 

 decision has been 

 made as to a suitable 

 breed, the aim should 

 be to obtain ewes that 

 are individually good 

 and that have as 

 many crosses as pos- 

 sible of the breed 

 selected. With such 

 a foundation and the 

 continuous use of 

 good pure-bred rams 

 of the same breed, the 

 flock will make con- 

 tinuous improvement. 



In lookino" for ewes FlG - 3 - A 2 -year-old mouth. The two large teeth in the 



of desired types and 

 breeding it will often 

 be found impossible 

 to get them near at home at a reasonable price. Ewes from the west- 

 ern ranges can be obtained directly from a stockyard market. For 

 the most part the n.nge ewes are of Merino breeding. First-cross 

 ewe lambs and less often older stock bred on the range and sired 

 by rams of the down or long-wool breeds are sometimes obtainable. 

 These, or even the Merino ewes, furnish a foundation for the flock 

 that can be quickly graded up by using rams of the breed preferred. 

 The lambs from Merino ewes and mutton rams grow w r ell and sell 



1 Farmers' Bulletin 576. entitled " Breeds of Sheep for the Farm," discusses the 

 adaptability of each of the common breeds. It is obtainable from the Department of 

 Agriculture upon request. 



100707 Bull. 84017 2 



center are the first pair that come in at about 12 months 

 of age. The next, or 2-year-old pair, show one on each 

 side of the center pair. The two small teeth on the 

 right are lamb teeth. 



