CHAPTER V 

 FORMATION OF A FLOCK 



It is seldom advisable for the beginner in any 

 kind of stock-breeding to begin with the expectation 

 of offering the increase of the herd or flock for sale 

 as breeding animals. 



There are many considerations in preparing stock 

 for sale and in finding buyers that the novice can 

 best leave until he has become experienced in breed- 

 ing and feeding the class of stock he has chosen. 

 This idea is even more applicable to sheep than to 

 other classes of farm stock. 



Pure-breds versus grades for foundation stock. — 

 One who is not accustomed to caring for sheep is 

 unlikely to produce many animals in the first few 

 years of the enterprise that will command an en- 

 couraging figure as breeding stock. The popularity 

 of a pure-bred flock must always rest upon the ability 

 of its individuals to impart qualities of economic 

 value to stock that is handled for the direct pro- 

 duction of meat or wool. In order to establish in 

 his flock the necessary qualities of actual commercial 

 utility, the breeder cannot afford to miss the aid and 

 direction to be secured through selling wool and mut- 

 ton of the first surplus stock in the regular market. 



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