SHEEP HAISING FOR BEGINNERS. 
1 
varies according to systems followed in different sections. In all 
cases the amount of labor is small in proportion to that required by 
other live-stock products of equal value. Feeding the sheep in winter 
is light labor, and the manure need not ordinarih^ be removed from 
pens oftener than once in six weeks during the time the flock is 
housed. 
However, sheep raising should not be engaged in with an idea that 
little attention is required. The wants of sheep are numerous and 
varied, and frequent attention is required to forestall conditions that 
will result in ill health or lack of thrift. With a large flock at 
lambing time frequent attendance day and night is necessary to avoid 
losses of ewes and young lambs. "\ATiile their habits are quite 
different from those of other farm animals, sheep are an interesting 
study. Sheep management can be learned and understood by anyone 
who is willing to obserA'e carefully and think and attend to the 
details as attention is required. 
RETURNS FROM SHEEP RAISING. 
The gross annual returns from ewes of breeding age may be expected 
to range from $8 to $15 a head, depending upon the percentage of 
lambs raised, the weights of the fleeces, and the values for these 
products. The lamb and wool yields depend largely upon the breed 
selected. With ewes of any one of the medium-sized mutton breeds 
115 per cent of lambs can be raised, and 150 per cent is not infre- 
quently reached. Lambs are most in demand when fat at a weight 
of from 65 to 80 pounds. These weights and sufficient fatness can 
be obtained at from J: to 5 months of age with very little grain feed- 
ing, and before the lambs eat much of the forage in pasturage, if the 
ewes' feed produces a continuous and plentiful supply of milk. 
The wool returns vary from 7 to 11 pounds per ewe. The larger 
mutton breeds yield more, as do also the fine wools, but the value per 
pound of the latter is usually less on account of the greater propor- 
tion of natural grease or yolk present. 
It is difficult to estimate satisfactorily the net returns from a flock 
of ewes. In comparison with cattle and swine, sheep can be made to 
yield practically the same net returns on the value of the land, if 
well cared for, and if kept on lands reasonably well adapted for 
sheep raising. 
For farms of all-arable land the Illinois Experiment Station ^ has 
recommended a plan of live-stock production which includes 80 ewes 
(1 ewe to 2 acres) along wdth 22 breeding cows and 12 brood sows. 
Arable land of the best class w^hen used exclusively for sheep can be 
made to support from 5 to 8 ewes (with their lambs until marketed) 
' Circular entitled " Facts Regarding Mixed System of Farming." 
