The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-29
;Mfske Ratttt.
SHEEP BREEDING PROFITABLE.

A correspondent of the COUNTRY
GENTLEMAN says: In the rearing of
stock, it is desirable to keep the kind
that will afford the most profit, with
the least outlay of feed and care
Sheep have one advantage over other
stock in early maturity q speak more
particularly of ordinary sheep-those
not bred for breeding purposes4 A
lamb at the age of four months will sell
to the butcher for money enough to buy
well-bred breeding eve, three months
later in the season, which will raise
equally as good lamb, and save the
keeping for three months, and clip q
fleece of wool the next season, which
will pay for her keeping year. A
sheep at the age of eighteen months,
whether we'll bred or of ordinary stock,
is worth as much to sell or keep, and
perhaps more, than it will ever be
again. A colt, or calf, of ordinary
breeding at that age, has very little
value to what it will have at maturity,
and there is no return for its keeping.
The sheep has shorn wool enough to
pay its keep to that age. The calf will
need to be kept two years before there
is any income, and perhaps three, and
the third year the increase in value will
not more than balance the feed. The
colt has to be kept three years without
any return, and its growth in the fourth
will not more than pay its keep. From
CHI 70 hat hox
crops of wool, and two lambs. and as
much growth in proportion to feed con-
sumed All this is in their favor, and
ever afterwards, all things being equal,
the profits from the sheep will be as
mush as from horses or cattle.
Another advantage claimed for sheep
is the equal distribution of their ma
nure This perhaps is too often over
looked by the general farmer, but is
none the less important Horses or
cattle, except in very warm weather,
when in pasture, will keep in the low
est and most sheltered situations, and
leave their droppings so thick where
they are not useful, as materially to in
jure the feed while used as a pasture :;
and through the pasture generally the
droppings of cattle or horses, to become
useful as fertilizer, must be broken up
and scattered about, or they will do
more present harm than good. This is
not the case with sheep their manure
could not be distributed more evenly
than it is natural for them to leave it,
and instead of leaving it in the low,
rich portions of the field, they always
seek the highest, poorest knoll, and lie
there when not feeding, except in Sc
we're storms, and in time make the poor
est spots as fertile as any.
Another advantage claimed is the
inferior quality of feed for market pur-
poses upon which they can be kept.
On a farm where there is no sheep,
from five to ten may be kept, and the
pasture will not be missed, as they
prefer many things that horses and
cattle do not, and feed so short, that
where dairy of COWS would scarcely
pay for milking, a flock of sheep will
thrive and do we'll In this section of
country, in seeding down to grass, more
or less clover is used; consequently the
first and second cuttings are not first
quality hay for market purposes. But
by having flock of sheep in proper
tion to this amount of hay, this hay is
just what the sheep need, and the
farmer can sell his timothy, and the
whole crop is turned to the best ad-
vantage possible No grain need be
ground for sheep. This is quite saw
ing in expense. The cost for grinding
is usually every tenth bushel, and the
trouble of taking it to mill in the small
quantities usually taken, amounts to
about as much more. Another advan-
tage claimed is the small amount of
labor required. think it is not over
estimating to say that one mich cow
during the year will require as much
labor in the care of her as fifty sheep,
and many pair of horses gets as much
care as eighty sheep. One year with
another sheep will be on grass two
months longer than either cattle or
horses, and while in pasture need very
little care. During the time horses
anu CdItlc are Ill Iue SldUle, WUlCD VIII
average seven months, cleaning their
stables is no small item in point of
labor, which is entirely obviated in the
care of sheep.
In the event of death, there is no
animal kept on the farm, the value of
whose skin will go so far towards the
payment of the first cost of the animal,
or what it may be worth at the time of
death, as sheep. The pelt of a sheep
bought in the Fall for S., could be sold
to-day for $3.50, and perhaps 50. 1t is
scarcely necessary for me to say, in
case of death, the skin of either COW or
horse, which is all we have, would not
bear any snch favorable comparison to
the first cost. If any of the positions
have taken are incorrect, wish to be
set right, as l wish to turn everything
upon the farm to the best advantage.