SHEEP ON NEW ENGLAND FARMS. 



27 



mutton breeds seem to come the nearest to fulfilling these require- 

 ments, and it is known that these breeds do well if careful selection 

 of breeding stock is practiced and good care given at all times. 

 Within this class it is a matter of choosing one's favorite breed, pick- 

 ing out good strong ewes each year and occasionally introducing new 

 blood, preferably of the same breed. Crosses do well in some in- 

 stances, but the promiscuous mixing of breeds is in nowise to be 

 recommended, and under usual circumstances it is the best practice 

 to stick to the same breed, aiming at all times to keep none but 

 strong, healthy stock. 



EARLY VERSUS LATE LAMBS. 



As to the best time to have lambs come, whether early or late 

 spring, there is great diversity of opinion, and numerous growers 

 can be found who are following each method, apparently with equally 

 good results. Either method has its advantages and disadvantages, 

 and which practice one should follow depends to a large extent 

 upon market demands and the facilities of individual breeders for 

 handling sheep. Early lambs are said to be less subject to attacks of 

 parasites 1 than are late lambs, which is a very important factor 

 where stomach worms have given trouble. It is claimed by those 

 who have their lambs come early that by getting an earlier start 

 they make larger lambs, which can be turned off earlier than when 

 they come later. It is also pointed out that early lambing permits 

 of dipping, docking, and castrating before the lambs are turned 

 away to pasture, important operations which are likely to go undone 

 if the lambs do not come until the ewes have gone on grass. 



Those who have their lambs come late claim, on the other hand, 

 a great saving in expense for grain, the lambs requiring no grain 

 and the ewes but little as compared with that fed to both for a long 

 period under the other method. With this method it is said that 

 scarcely any trouble is experienced with ewes not having milk and 

 disowning their lambs, a trouble which occurs to a considerable ex- 

 tent where lambs are dropped early. Also with late lambs less 

 attention is required at lambing time, and it is claimed that if 

 pastures are good and the season not cold the lambs begin to grow at 

 once and make a much better and quicker growth than where the 

 lambs come earlier. 



From the writer's observations, while late-dropped lambs may 

 make a quicker growth, in regions where this method is practiced 

 lambs are not marketed until a month or so later than in other re- 

 gions, and where the market demands summer and early fall lambs, 

 it is doubtful if late lambs will make a profitable growth. 



1 Farmers' Pulletin 840, p. 22. 



