Castrating and Docking Lambs. 



7 



competition from feeder buyers, consequently increasing their sale 

 value. This competition is entirely lacking in the case of ram lambs. 

 Another important reason for the castration of male lambs is found in 

 the fact that better weight gains are assured than when such lambs 

 are permitted to mature to the age of 5 or 6 months as rams. Every 

 experienced lamb feeder must recognize the fact that the more quiet 

 his lambs can be kept the bigger the gains they will make. The 

 presence of even a few ram lambs causes restlessness in an entire 



Fig. 3. — Testicles exposed. 



flock, since the rams not only keep their own flesh down but also that 

 of the other animals of the flock. 



A LOAD THAT SOLD AT A PREMIUM. 



In September, 1918, a well-known packer in Chicago received a 

 load of ewe and wether native lambs direct from Louisville, where 

 the stock was purchased at $18.50 per hundredweight. At that time 

 $17 was considered practically the top of the market for " good " 

 lambs, as the trade usually considers them, while " seconds " were 



