MILK lambs: how to get, grow and market 245 



For such production pure Southdown sires have been 

 found the most suitable, and probably next to these the 

 Shropshires. Lambs from the former have a plumpness 

 and compactness of form that indicate the ideal mutton 

 form. Moreover, they bear a refinement of bone that is 

 closely associated with good killing properties. They 

 also have a tendency to mature early, which insures rapid 

 growth while they are young. 



Such breeding, however, would probably result in 

 bringing about some reversion of the early breeding 

 habit; hence it would seem unwise to retain the females 

 for future breeding. There would also be some decrease 

 in the prolificacy of ewes thus begotten and some lessen- 

 ing of the capacity for milk production. These sires, 

 therefore, should only be used when dams that produce 

 winter lambs are plentiful, or when it is not desired longer 

 to secure from them ewes to be retained for breeding. 



Where milk lambs should be grown — Milk lambs 

 should not be grown except where all the facilities exist 

 for making the work at least reasonably successful. It 

 should not be attempted : (i) Where the facilities for mar- 

 keting are not good; (2) where the requisite foods cannot 

 be grown with a reasonable degree of success ; (3) where 

 the place of consumption is far distant from the place of 

 production ; and (4) where the demand does not exist for 

 such lambs. 



The facilities for marketing include proximity to a 

 railroad station, and telegraph or telephone communica- 

 tions with the dealers who want the lambs. Under such 

 conditions only can orders be received and filled with 

 sufificient promptness. A long distance from the place of 

 shipment would add much to the expense of the same. 



While it is, of course, allowable to purchase the grain 

 or a part of it when growing milk lambs, the profit will 

 be proportionately greater when the food can be grown 

 successfully on the farm. The coarse fodders used, being 

 somewhat special in character, can be grown in a more 



