36 Practical Sheep Husbandry 



then the testicles may be removed by grasping them gently but firmly 

 and pulling them straight out, one at a time. Many good shepherds 

 prefer to pull them with the teeth, as it is very diificult to grasp them 

 firmly enough with the fingers. Each operation should be done 

 thoroughly, but as quickly as possible. 



Early Lambs : Why ? 



The early marketing of lambs in the central states has several 

 very commendable advantages over the custom of running them through 

 and marketing them in the fall and winter. Here are a few points to 

 be considered : 



(a) They gain little or none during the two hot summer months, 

 July and August. 



(b) Hot, droughty weather always presents extra problems, some- 

 times that of water, and generally a question of sufficient nutritious, 

 fattening feeds. 



(c) It lessens the demands of the pasture at the time most needed 

 for the breeding flocks. 



(d) Labor is saved if lambs are marketed at weaning time. 



(e) There is also the decided advantage of avoiding the congestion 

 and heavy receipts always encountered in the fall. 



(f ) The use of the money obtained is a consideration to many people 

 at this season of the year or before the harvesting of crops. 



(g) It is also a fact that the big, quick gains are the most remuner- 

 ative, one time with another. 



(h) Lambs will make a bigger gain on less feed during the first four 

 months than at any other time in their lives. 



Producing the Early Lamb 



To produce the early lamb, early rye or wheat fields may be utilized 

 to good advantage as a part of the roughage. Early pasturing of 

 either is beneficial, rather than a detriment to the rye or wheat. Early 

 alfalfa or clover is fine, and blue grass pasture is always good. The 

 shepherd must exercise caution in pasturing alfalfa to avoid bloating 

 and scouring. Advantage should be taken of the spring and early 

 summer grasses, but these grasses, no matter how good, will hardly 

 produce the kind of lambs required at the market by the time or before 

 the hot weather begins. Lambs should average at least 65 to 75 pounds 

 on the market to be of desirable weight for the demand during the sum- 

 mer months. The most desirable weight for fat lambs during the late 

 fall and winter is 75 to 85 pounds on the market. 



Shearing 



Shearing is one of the harvesting times, and should not be treated 

 lightly. Burs, cur dogs, poor fences, dirty barn yards, carelessness 

 and neglect are all children of old "Daddy Failure," and do not fit in 

 with the sheep business. Digging a ditch in a dress suit, or scrubbing 

 a floor in a silk dress is right in line with turning sheep with valuable 



