52 Practical Sheep Husbandry 



In shipping to market it is generally safe to load wooled sheep into a 



thirty-six foot, single deck car as follows: 



120 to 130 75-lb. to 85-lb. lambs 



130 to 140 65-lb. to 75-lb. lambs 



100 to 110 115-lb. to 130-lb. sheep 



110 to 120 100-lb. to 110-lb. sheep 



Clipped sheep or lambs can be loaded ten to fifteen heavier to the 



deck. It is very seldom sheep can be safely loaded to the full weight 



capacity of the car. 



Sorting for the Market 



In preparing sheep or lambs for market, it is a rare thing for all 

 the sheep and lambs to take to the feed at the same time or eat the same 

 amount. The stronger will crowd the weaker away and take their 

 feed, therefore part of them will get fat and be ready for market before 

 they are all ready. So it is advisable where two or more decks are 

 being fed for market, to sort off a load or so as fast as they become fat 

 and market them. To do this, crowd them all in a tight lot, and then 

 go through them carefully, handling lamb after lamb. Use the index 

 finger and get well through the wool half way down on the side, and 

 then with a sweeping motion push the finger back and forth across 

 the ribs. If you feel a washboard effect you may know that sheep or 

 lamb will not do. Find a sheep or lamb that you are sure is fat, handle 

 his ribs thoroughly and get him well fixed in your mind, then use him 



This Man Knows that Sheep and Lambs Must be Made Fat to Meet the Demands of the Market 

 and He Is Sorting Off a Load or So for Shipment 



as a model. Sort off a load or more that measures up to his standard. 

 Avoid just looking at them and deciding they are fat. The best judges 

 of sheep on the market do not dare to trust to sight alone. Lambs or 



