SHEEP BREEDING EXPERIMENT. 349 
lots in this respect. The Wiltshire cross lambs were dropped 
between February 28th and March 30th, the Shropshire 
cross between March 3rd and April 3rd, and the Leicester cross 
between March 1st and April 7th. Everylamb was marked 
with a distinctive mark at birth. The ewes were grazed 
on the same pasture after the removal of the rams in 
December, and except for about three weeks during the 
severe weather in the spring received no artificial food. 
The lambs were sold at the beginning of July on the under- 
standing that they were to be removed as soon as they became 
ready for the butcher, the whole to be cleared by the end 
of August. At this time there were 26 of the Wiltshire cross, 
24 of the Shropshire cross, and 20 of the Leicestershire cross. 
They went sent to market in three drafts of 35, 19, and 16 
head respectively on July oth, August 6th, and September 5th.. 
The average live weights of the lambs at these dates were 
as follows :— | 




July 9. August 6, September 5. 









Variety. 
aes Number | Average | Number | Average | Number} Average 
) Live of Live Of Liver | 
Lambs. | Weight. | Lambs. | Weight. } Lambs. | Weight. } 


Whee | Ibs. Tes 






Wiltshire cross” - : 14 69°9 6 71° 6 70'8 
Shropshire cross - -  & 68°5 ere 68°9 8 61°5 
Leicester cross - - 16 65°90 | Z (COP = ee 565 
| 
It was found on adding together the total live weights. of 
allthe lambs sold of each variety that 26 Wiltshire cross 
lambs averaged 70°4 Ibs. live weight; 24 Shropshire cross. 
lambs averaged 66°4 lbs. live weight ; and 20 Leicester cross. 
lambs averaged 64°4 lbs. live weight. 
In breeding lambs for the butcher the first consideration, 
Professor Winter points out, is to get them really fat. Then,,. 
provided the lambs are of good quality, the heavier they 
are within certain limits the higher the price obtained. 
Further, lambs which have, so to speak, lost their bloom. 
never sell so well as those possessing the characteristic 
appearance of fat lambs. It is also very important to have 
lambs ready for the butcher early in the season, as prices- 

