234 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



To make a very moderate profit, experience has 

 shown that with concentrates at one cent a pound the 

 selling price should exceed the buying price by not less 

 than one cent per pound live weight. To make a good 

 profit the former should exceed the latter by not less than 

 ij4 cents per pound. 



The marked influence of the weights of the animals 

 at the time of purchase will be readily apparent. Thus 

 if one animal purchased and put on feed weighs lOO 

 pounds at the time of purchase and increases in value one 

 cent per pound because of the fattening, and if another 

 animal weighs but 60 pounds under similar conditions of 

 purchase and sale, the increase in the value of the former 

 at the time of purchase will be 40 cents more than that of 

 the latter. At first thought it would seem more profitable 

 to purchase large rather than small animals to put on 

 feed, but in practice in very many instances this does not 

 hold true, owing to the bearing of other influences 

 affected by size and age, as the purchase and sale prices, 

 rate of increase and cost of the same. 



The bearing of the rate of increase and the cost of 

 food are so apparent as not to call for prolonged dis- 

 cussion. Rapid increase adds to profit by its actual value, 

 by reducing the cost of maintenance and by the salutary 

 influence which it exercises on condition. When the cost 

 of concentrates exceeds one cent per pound and the selling 

 price of the finished product is not more than 5 to 6 cents 

 per pound live weight, careful feeding is necessary to in- 

 sure much profit. 



The relative profit from feeding lambs and wethers 

 or other sheep more mature than lambs will vary with 

 conditions such as relate to purchase and sale, also to the 

 value of food. The comparison may be stated thus: 

 Lambs usually cost more per pound when purchased, 

 make more increase and at less cost and are sold at an 

 advance in price greater, as a rule, than that obtained 

 for other sheep ; hence the margin of profit on lambs is in 



