228 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



ing the period of comparative slack demand for meat im- 

 mediately following that season. 



The feeding of the second lot may begin immediately 

 after the sale of the first lot. When put on foods for fat- 

 tening, say not later than the middle of February, they 

 will be ready for market not later than May 15. If they 

 can be put upon a finishing ration at the beginning of 

 February, then they may be sold early in May, a month 

 during which good prices usually prevail for such meat, 

 as grass-finished animals have not yet reached the market. 

 But they should be shorn without fail when the weather 

 begins to get warm. 



Where such feeding can be conducted, especially on the 

 arable farm, the benefit therefrom will be apparent. In addi- 

 tion to any direct profit that may result, the fertilizer pro- 

 duced is doubled, which is a matter of great importance 

 to the feeder whose lands call for additional fertilizer. It 

 would even be practicable to finish three lots of sheep 

 within the year on the same farm, and the first lot in such 

 instances would be finished on grazing such as rape, and 

 marketed not later than November i. 



Hazard to breeding flocks — The fattening of sheep 

 and lambs on the arable farm, when the supplies for fat- 

 tening are purchased is attended with no little hazard to 

 the breeding flock when one is kept upon the same farm. 

 Such hazard consists in the possible, if not indeed proba- 

 ble, introduction of parasites, such as tape and stomach 

 worms. Where the feeders are purchased it is impossi- 

 ble to know whether these and certain other parasites are 

 present or not. The presence of such insects as scab 

 mites and ticks may usually be discovered at the time of 

 purchase, and by making proper use of dipping tanks 

 their introduction to the farms may be prevented. If 

 purchased at the stockyards the dipping may most con- 

 veniently be done at the stockyards, but if purchased else- 

 where it must be done on the farm. To make sure that 

 all the insects will be destroyed when scab is present, two 



