Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-02-13
lettings al Kirby Homestead.
By COL. F. n. CURTIS.


There are two sides to the early lamb
question. When lambs come before
the sheep are out to grass the ewes
must have extra feed either Of grain or
roots, both would be better, and this is
no lnconsiderable addition TO the cost
of raising the lambs. By the time the
sheep can 90 out TO grass they are dried
up in their milk and the lambs are
obliged to get their living, to a large
extent, on the grass alone, being de-
priyed oftheir mothers milk at the very
time they need it to round them up for
the shambles. The sheep will also lose
more or less wool just in proportion to
the length Of time they are sucking
before they are shOrn. Lambs born
in winter are never so fat as those which
are dropped when the ewes are out TO
grass and all the conditions favorable
TO make milk and keep up the supply
continuously. No amount OF extra
ieed given 10 the ewes will make the
same flow of milk or, at least, produce
the same plumpness OF condition hence
winter lambs are not so good to kill
except only as they may supply de-
mand for a spring market. Does the
extra price they may bring compensate
for the additional feed given to the
ewes? This is one side Of the early
lamb question. AS farmers usually
keep their sheep there is no profit IN
having winter lambs. The percentage
of loss is much greater than in April or
Nav and generally as the winter lambs
are not taught to eat grain by themseiy 5
but are left t. depend entirely upon
the scanty supply OF their mother
milk and whatever hay they eat they
grow lanky, with light quarters and are
always thin OH the ribs. Such
lambs look much heavier than they
really are; their frames being often
large and the wool long. AS butchers
say they are Every deceiying." They
arc not worth so much as later ones
which, having plenty OF milk, are plump
aud tat, although they may not look 50
large.
However, when lambs ccme in the
winter the time Of the sheperd is not
worth 80 much as it is in the spring
months when seed time presses aud
every minute can be employed at Other
important work. This is one Of the
greatest advantages in favor Of winter
lambs. Ii the intention OF the breeder
is to winter over his eve lambs. then
il is best by all means to have them
come as early as possible. for early
lambs will be more likely to have
lambs the next year and 80 double III,
profits, Another reason aud Il gOOC
one, is. II any OF the ewes are old all"
ueed to be iattcned and turned OF, tic
earlier they drop their lambs the better.
AS they may BIZ moved sooner and glN'
the lambs chance 10 tatten ON grass.
which they cannot do if required t.
suckle their young until late III The
season. Fattening on grass is tbs
cheapest way to put any animal in con
diuOn and the best way altogether ioi
Que we'll in wears. Lambs dropped il
winter are usually tanner and this is o
no small account, especially if they art
designed for a flock. A flock Of wild
scary sheep is q nuisance. while one
tame and gentle, which will follow TIT
master aud are fond Of being petted, Is
delight and really can be kept oil
much less food. You can scare and rur
flesh off from an animal much sooner
than you can put it on.
No farmer should except to have
early lambs unless he has made all OF
the necessary preparations. He mus
have warm stable or fold to keep them
in. He must have a warm place fol
the ewes to have their lambs in, anC
then he must have a supply Of grain anC
roots and nice bright clover hay. This
is the best, but rowen Of any kind vii
do very well. Rowen is second grOwll
hay and the best is orclard-grass. II,
must feed his ewes all they will eat. auC
1t is best to teach the young lambs t.
eat by themselves as soon as they arr
old enough. Our lambs are coming in
March. The sheep have not been ex-
posed to storm for several weeks.
We think it is better for them to starvc
a little than to be soaked with wet at
this time Of the year. Many a time a
farmer says in the winter, Il don't know
what is the matter with my sheep. They
don't seem TO have any appetites and
they are doing so badly; sheep are queer
things anyhow" Well, the mat teri',
neglect. Neglect now is worse than at
any other time, as 1t lays tie foundation
for colds and consumption, and other
disorders which show themselves in the
winter ana causes the poor sheep to
pine away, and maybe die. They are
left out in all the cold rain storms and
are soaking wet day after day. They
must get chilled and they do, and dis
eases start with these exposures, which
render them Improbable. Such flock
of sheep have puny lambs, or maybe
and it is a wonder if they don't-th,
ewes will abort. Sheep are the incest
stock in the world when well cared Tor.
No animal responds more promptly or
proftably 10 generous treatment than
the sheep hence the Saxon proverh
the hooi of a sheep is gold.'-Rur0l
NeiV Yorker.