Farm Sheep 193 



between fifty and eighty pounds, the proper market 

 weight being about sixty pounds. A farmer located near 

 a large city can dress very early spring lambs on the farm, 

 shipping by express and selling to hotels, clubs, and the 

 like. The very earliest lambs bring fancy prices and are 

 very profitable in spite of the higher cost of production, 

 but si^nce it is only a few of the very earliest that bring 

 the fancy prices, the early lamb business must be limited 

 to those farms so situated that the lambs may be easily 

 marketed before the rush begins. The average farmer 

 must, therefore, try to meet a more stable, although 

 lower market. He can and must, however, get his 

 lambs off before the range lambs come in. The large 

 number of spring lambs are marketed in carload lots 

 in the stock-yards. These lambs are young and 

 tender and great care must be taken to see that 

 they receive the least possible rough treatment on their 

 journey. 



The marketing of pure-bred stock is somewhat different, 

 as they must be held until they are older. With pure- 

 bred stock the farmer has two methods to follow ; namely, 

 selling his stock as lambs or as yearlings. Marketing in 

 either case is done in the fall, just prior to the breeding 

 season. The system of selling stock as yearlings is best 

 when the farmer has enough land, since there usually is 

 more money in it for the producer and the buyer is better 

 satisfied. The sale of lambs for breeding purposes should 

 be discouraged as much as possible. 



Annual auction sales, wherever established, are the best 

 means of marketing. Breeders should support these 

 sales as they are the cheapest way for the buyer and seller 

 to get in touch with each other. 



