farmers' bulletin 840. 
l)er acre. On pnstiires suitable for either cattle or sheep five ewes 
may be considered the equivalent of one cow or steer, and the winter 
feed required for one breeding cow not in milk would be equivalent 
to that needed for about eight ewes. 
STARTING THE FLOCK. 
TIME TO START. 
Late summer or early fall is the most favorable time to make a 
start in sheep raising. Ewes can be procured more readily at this 
time, and when purchased can be kept on meadows, grain stubble 
fields, or late-sown forage crops to get them in good condition for 
breeding. Experience with the ewes through fall and winter will 
also render a beginner more capable of attending to them at lambing 
time. It is seldom possible to buy any considerable number of bred 
ewes at reasonable prices. 
SELECTION OF STOCK. 
The inexperienced sheep raiser should begin with grade CAves of 
the best class available and a pure-bred ram. The raising of pure- 
bred stock and the selling of breeding rams can best be undertaken 
by persons experienced in sheep raising. The selection of the type 
and breed of sheep should be made by considering the class of pas- 
ture and feeds available and the general system of farming to be 
followed, along with the peculiarities of the breeds and the condi- 
FiG. 2. — A good type of a pure-bred mutton sire. 
