The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-01-13
Fattening sheep.

In fatten1ng sheep IN winter IN our
severe climate, our profits are derived
principally from the price that fat sheep
usually bring in the spring, and not
from the mere increase In the weight of
the sheep. For instance, last Decem-
Der, sheep that could be bought for 4
cts. per ID. were worth Sets. per b. in
April, if moderately fat, and Gets. if
extra fat. A sheep that gains 20pounds
during the five winter months may be
considered as doing well But this
would not pay for the food consumed if
we had to depend merely on the in
crease of weight of the sheep. We
should, at 8 cts. per h. get only $1.60
for five months feeding. But if we buy
a hundred pound sheep for cts. per 10.
and it gains 20 pounds, and then sells
at Sets. per h., it would bring $3.50
and we get $3.50 for feeding, etc. This
will pay as well in our opinion as any
ordinary branch of farming ought to pay.
The real point in fattening sheep in
winter is to have the sheep nearly fat
before winter sets in. It will not do to
attempt to fatten the s'worst lambs
If we attempt to fatten lambs at all,
they must be of the very best quality,
and should have extra food during the
summer and autumn.
Weweuld advise the following course;
Select good, common, long wooled
ewes. Then get thoroughbred Cots
void ram. We should prefer one that
manifests tendency TO early maturity,
rather than to extra size. Have the
lambs come in April or the first of May.
While in lamb, keep the ewes In good,
healthy condition; not too fat
and certainly not too thin
After they have lambed, feed
literally, SO that the ewes viii have
abundance of milk This is q very
important point. Ii the grass is not
ready, give good clover hay and bran
with roots and little grain We find
bran excellent food for suokhng ewes,
either with or without roots. When
turned out to grass, we would continue
to supply them with what clover hay
and bran they would eat, also q little
grain, say from half pint to pint
per day for each sheep. This will give
the lambs good start, which is half
the race. Let them have good pasture
during the summer and fall. IL the
pasture is not first-class, feed a little
oil-cake or bran and grain.
Feed well, during the winter, on good
barley and wheat straw, with pound
of oil-cake, each, per day, and towards
spring feed clover hay; or, if preferred,
feed clover hay during the whole win
ter instead of straw and oil-cake. The
next summer feed literally, and by tbs
first of November the sheep will be in
prime order. Then shut them up and
feed clover hay and oil-cake for about
six weeks, and send the sheep to the
market for Christmas mutton. By this
time the sheep should average 10C
pounds each, and would command 6
high price. The point we wish &c
make is, that in our severe climate, We
should aim to fatten our sheep dur
ing the summer. In the hands of ex
perienced feeders, sheep can be fatten
ed during the winter; and those whC
can purchase the right kind of sheeE
in the fall at ordinary rates, often make
a good deal of money by fattening then
for market. But it is getting more anC
more difficult every year to find tbs
right kind of sheep And it certainly
will NOT pay to attempt to fatten sheer
that are in poor condition when wintel
sets in. All that we should attempt e
do in winter is to finish off the sheep
make them ripe for the butcher, anC
find good market.-AHBeric0a AQTt
! culturfSt.