364 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



120 to 130 finished lambs will make a load. But the num- 

 bers given may be exceeded or diminished so as to vary 

 considerably through the influences named. 



Usually it will be found to the advantage of the 

 shipper to consign the shipment to some reputable com- 

 mission firm. The advice of the said firm with reference 

 to a propitious time for shipping will usually prove help- 

 ful. The commission house should be apprised by wire 

 of the time when the loaded consignment will leave, so 

 that they will know when to look for it at the yards. 

 After inspection the stock is in charge of the commission 

 firm until sold. The said firm makes sure that the ani- 

 mals are properly unloaded, that they are properly fed 

 and watered, and that the animals are promptly sold at 

 the best rates obtainable. A check is then issued to the 

 owner, with the charges deducted. These charges include 

 such items as switching charges, the cost of food, charges 

 for weighing and the commission charges. 



Shipping finished sheep in train loads — As a matter 

 of economy in shipping, sheep are sometimes sent forward 

 from the place of feeding in train loads from points that 

 are far away. To put these on the market at one time 

 might involve hazard, especially when several days are 

 occupied in the journey, owing to the change in market 

 values. To avoid such hazard, the plan is adopted of 

 securing an unloading point not distant from the mar- 

 ket. The plant at this point may also be used as a feed- 

 ing station. 



The sheep should reach this plant in ample time to 

 enable them to recover from the effects of the long jour- 

 ney in transit before they are put upon the market. The 

 owner secures the services of a commission house located 

 at the market. From the said firm he gets information 

 from time to time as to the needs of the market. He is 

 then enabled to forward selected animals from time to 

 time in carload lots in the line of the needs of the mar- 

 ket. In this way he secures the best returns obtainable 



