RAISING EARLY LAMBS. 
2<> 
Shropshires or about one-sixth of the total income. This 
difference is due entirely to the larger number of lambs 
reared by the Dorsets. Their record is practically one hun¬ 
dred per cent, since 74 lambs were sold from 25 ewes in* 
three years. 
ARE EARLY LAMBS PROFITABLE. 
It is a difficult matter to estimate the cost of running 
sheep in such small numbers as we had in this experiment. 
But we will give the income side and the winter expenses 
and each one can estimate for himself what the cost would 
be, in his own case, of carrying the ewes through the sum¬ 
mer. * 
Year. 
No. of Lambs 
Sold. 
Age in Days at 
Date of Sale. 
Live Weight. 
Dressed Weight. 
Selling Price per 
Head. 
Total Selling 
Price. 
1896 
47 
74 
48 
22 
$3.30 
$156.45 
1897 
48 
76 
55 
26.5 
3.97 
192.35 
1898 
40 
106 
60 
3.50 
140.00 
Total. 
135 
• • • • 
488.80 
Average. 
45 
85 
54 
25 
$3.62 
$162.93 
The above figures show a yearly income from fifty ewes 
of $162.93 for the lambs. To this should be added the re¬ 
return for the wool. This has amounted to about 70 cents 
per year per head, or $35.00 for the 50 ewes. This gives a 
total yearly income of $197.93, or $3.96 per ewe. The ewes 
were sold at the end of the experiment for a little more 
than they cost, so there was no loss in that respect. 
Here are some items that can be estimated in the ex¬ 
pense of these ewes as follows: 
The ewes were kept in the corrals and fed hay after 
about the first of November. As soon as the lamb was 
dropped grain was given to the ewe and continued until the 
lamb was sold. When on hay alone, the ewes ate about five 
