CHAPTER XI 



FATTENING RANGE LAMBS IN WINTER 



The fattening of range lambs in winter has become an 

 important industry in the irrigated sections of the West 

 where good hay and grain are abundant. Since both 

 hay and grain are required for the best results, lambs 

 cannot be fattened profitably where either one is lacking 

 or excessively high in price. A comparatively dry cli- 

 mate is also very helpful. Where there are a great many 

 wet storms, sheds and barns are necessary and cost of 

 maintenance and interest on the investment in such 

 barns take off a large part of the profit. 



THE LAMBS 



The lambs used for winter fattening are those that 

 are brought in from the range in the fall or early winter 

 and that have not had good enough grass during the 

 summer to make them fat. When the range is extra 

 good, lambs will become fat and attain weights of seventy- 

 five to eighty pounds before fall and are thus suitable to 

 go directly to market. When the range is not so good, 

 the lambs will not be fat, and will weigh approximately 

 sixty pounds each when they come off the range in the 

 fall. Such lambs, while rather small and lacking in flesh, 

 are in most cases very strong and vigorous, and when put 

 on full feed make rapid gains. When fat, moreover, 



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