Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-08-29
The Profits Of Sheep Husbandry
I'm The South,


from the facts Of the profits Of the
sheep business.
From the close Of lambing time
last year, we had about three nun.
dred sheep, consisting Of what we
consider full blood, (as they were de-
scended on both sides from sheep
broughtfrom the Nerth;) high grades
and all sorts, down to a few hall
blood. These sheep were pastured
on uncultivated fields just as they
were left to rest, without any prepar-
alton, until the corn fields were OPEN
ed in the falls. They were wintered
on tu.nips, cotton seed and barley
straws, with an occasional turn on tile
fall oats and barley, when the land
was dry enough. which was not very
often, as the winter was usually rainy.
The lambs were dropped in Decem-
ber and January, when they, with
their dams, were allowed the run OF
clover field, part Of each clear or
dry day. Our grass came In unnsu-
aHy late last spring, so that we had
10 feed longer than usual, but [ am
confident that our sheep have cost US
not over one dollar head for the
entire year from May to May, inclu-
sive of lambs, their feed is included
with their dams.
In May we sheared two hundred
and seventy-three, (the flock having
been reduced by sales, death and
mutton, to that number,) yielding
sixteen hundred and eighty-four
pounds, (l604 lbs.,) over six pounds
each, and we have about one hundred
and twenty-five lambs. These lambs
are worth twice the cost OF keeping
the flock; but say they pay expenses,
we certainly have the wool and ma
nurc, clear, and the latter is quite an
item, to us, worth, I think, one hun.
dred dollars. Although this is much
more than we make in any other way,
in proportion to investment and la
Dor. yet it is not un to the full capac-
ity of full blooded. flock. While a
common sheep will only give you
from one-and-a-half to three pounds
Of coarse wool, t,.eir limbs by heavy
Aeeced Merino rams. will about dou-
l,lc the yield OF their dams, and grad
ually increase in weight and value as
they grade up to the Merino. We
sheared twelve rams, eight of which
were small yearfings, which averaged
ten pounds, varying from eight to
twelve and three quarters. | men
tiQn these details, to show what has
been done here, on whatmay be call
etl old field pasture in summer, with
tolerably fair care and feed in win
ter. Most Of the labor'has been done
by my two little sons, under thirteen
years old, and myself. During lamb
ing time they need almost constant
attention day and night. Nearly all
that work I did myself; if needed
assistance, these boys rendersd'it. If
our other crops would'do as well, we
might count en- some money next
fall. but from present prospects, haC-
ing had no rain for two months, !
f ar;the qrOol will have to help out
the cotton. This is fine weather for
sheep-a dry year for fat sheep
furnishing an additional reason in
favoi of diversifying our crops.
seeour mutual friend, Col. Aiken,
gives in the May number Of The Ru-
raj Carolinian, his plan for castrating
lambs, and calls for criticisms ITO
which : will respond, as the plan is
liable to very grave objections, as he
exposes his lambs twice to great dan
ger, first, by waiting until the testi
cles are well developed, which In
creases the risk greatly, and then
from the lateness of the season the
flies are sure to blow them, unless
some preventive is applied every day
until they are we'll. But these diff
culties may 'be avoided by perform
ing the operation at the proper age,
say from three to ten days old, the
earlier the better, then there is very
little risk, ahd. as they usually come
in the winter, there are no flies to
blow them. There is no particular
skill necessary, the great matter is
to be. expeditions. We avoid doing
anything that will put blood on a
sheep in the summer or warm wealth
er, for the blow-Ay has a peculiar
fondness for the blood of sheep, and
will attack them on every occasion.
Should it become necessary, however
at any time during the warm season
to perform this, or any other opera
ton on a sheep, constant attention
with turpentipe. will keep off the
fly, Many 3 9 sheep, h dies ats from Hneggots
after being slightly bitten BY q dog,
that could be easily saved with prop
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