Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-06-18

We reprint 10 this issue an article on sheep
breeding from slip sent us by Mr. S. B.
Rockwell, practical breeder Of skill and
success. We think Mr.. II. does not over
estimate the Importance and value of sheep
husbandry to the state. While we agree
mainly with him in the conclusions at which
he arrives, it seems to US that his premises
are open to criticism. Twenty dollars a
head for hundred sheep and 500 for
buck is large investment for farmer Of
moderate means. 1t is not stated whether
they are to be thorough -breds or grades, but
either way it is high. Those figures may
not seem large to Addison county breeders,
who have been brought up in an atmosphere
redolent of high prices for sheep; but those
who are in the habit Of selling their wether
lambs in the fall for $3.50 to $3.50 each, or
in spring, after high feeding all winter, for
five or six cents pound after shorn, and who
rarely get above four dollars head for good
'store sheep" and who never sold sheep
for ten dollars in their lives, would expect
to lose by an investment Of that amount, aud
probably would not be disappointed, especially
if they got flock of sheep whose Aeeces no
more than paid for their keeping
The lowest figures put upon the lambs sold
at year old $3.50 each) is not far out of
the way, provided they were dropped early
aad fed for market all winter. Bat it must
be borne in mind that it costs something to
summer hundred such lambs, and $3.50
each would not 50 great way towards
feeding them for market.
But perhaps Mr.. r. based his figures on
flock of thoroughbred sheep, and sales for
the California or some other good, paying
market, at SIS, or even $3.50 each, with
" occasionlly breeding eve or buck" "at
one or more thousands Of dollars" All We
have to say to that is that the common farm.
ers outside of Addison county, who have iu-
vested in thoroughbred sheep and have had
opportunities to sell the whole increase
at price above their value if they were
grades, with occasionally breeding eve or
buck at even twenty-five dollars, are, so far
as our observation extends. scarce, and we
have had some acquaintance with such men,
and 4 little experience as breeder of
thoroughbred sheep. We would like to ask
Mr.. Rockwell how long it is since many
breeders of thoroughbred sheep in Addison
county were shipping their entire focks to
Brighton market to be slaughtered, and buy
ing cowsH Had they been selling their
whole annual increase at net profit Of six
dollars each?
Then again, an average Of 100 lambs
per year from 100 ewes, is more than our
own experience would justify us in counting
upon. If the flock were Cotswolds it might
do to reckon that way or even more than
that, as the ewes of that breed are very
prolific and extremely good nurses.
But it will never dc to think of maintain
ing flock Of sheep, either in number or
merit, by "selIing eight or ten successive
crops of lambs, and then substituting the last
crop for the original one" as breeders, even
though the last crop should be all ewes.
Allowance must be made for losses in eight
or ten years, and more than all that, the best
must be reserved for breeders. Some ewes
will fail to breed.
We particularly desire not to be under
stood as deprecating sheep husbandry-fol
it is our faVorite stock-or as casting doubt
upon thoroughbred sheep which are bred fOl
useful qualities-lor we have supreme faith
in their value for improving the common
aOcks of the state.
1t is our wish rather, to impress upon
the minds Of those who contemplate wool
growing and sheep-breeding as business
the Importance Of basing their estimates o
income upon sound views as to the prices t
be paid for flock to start with, the probabl,
increase, cost of keeping and what may b,
fairly expected in the way Of sales. W.
should fail in our duty to the readers of tn
FARMER did we omit to give such counsel a
the circumstances seem to call for. In pur
suanee of that duty, and because We haV
already prolonged the discussion here beyOn
our intention, and perhaps beyond the inter
est and patience of the readers of tn
FARMER, we switch of to another subject