The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-07-01
Going Into Sheep,

A new beginner, who has had no eX-
perience with sheep, asks us whether it
would be safe for him to buy 200 or more
sheep after shearing, with Il view offeed
ing them for market. He has pasture
for them, and thinks of feeding them in
winter, for spring sale. If our CORES
pondent wishes to take lesson in dear
bought experience, which will make
most lasting impression, then his project
would probably be entirely successful.
We generally advise taking lessons at
lower figure. Sheep feeding requires
good deal of Judgment, founded on eX-
perience, to manage proGtably. We
have known one instance where 'New
Beginners" project was tried success
fully, and fair margin left on the trans
action; but the circumstances were ex-
ceptionally favorable-he had an expert
enced Mentor at his elbow in the pur-
chase, and at frequent periods in the
feeding, as well as in the sale at the
time of marketing. These three things
are important landmarks in the sheep
business-to know how to buy, how to
feed, and, lastly, how to sell. A slight
mistake in each part is sure to result in
a loss. 1t is generally thought to be
more risky for new beginner to at
tempt the feeding of 200 sheep, than a
proportionate number of cattle, but he is
not likely to be successful in either. If
our correspondent has liking for sheep,
or thinks he would have, it would be
safer for him to try small number
say ten to twenty-and then feel his way
up to greater numbers. Let him visit
the nearest sheep market. and leisurely
inspect the different grades, and see how
each stands when brought to sale; keep
his eyes open to all the points, and re-
member them in his selections. This
will be cheaper than his large expert
ment, for new beginner. Again, if he
should spend little time in visiting
some successful feeders, and get an in
sight into their way of doing it, he will
be taking practical lessons at what they
are well worth to him. 1t may be con-
sidered somewhat strange that farmers
do not visit each other more in search of
the practical experience of those who
have succeeded in any specially. This
is in the natural line of those who do not
believe in book-farfning, but even this
sensible way of gaining information is
not much pursued.
We would suggest that ''New Begin
ner'' might find flock which he might
pasture through the summer, at so much
per head. and thus gain some informa-
ton in handling them. A flock of 200
sheep, well bought, the latter part of
June, to be pastured through the re-
mainder of the season, with a view of
feeding for sale at the most favorable
period. should be judiciously fed from
the start If the pasture is good the
sheep will do well on that alone but
little extra feed will be literally repaid
i'll fattening. AS fattening is the object
sought let this be done in the most eco
nomical way. A little grain on pasture
will pay much better than the same
amount of grain in winter. AS we have
often advised, economy requires that an
lmals intended for meat should be pushed
IN the warm season. A quarter of a
pound of corn and oats, or corn and
wheat bran, or corn and linseed meal,
mixed, for each sheep, will produce a
greater resultthan twice that amount of
feed in winter with good hay. The time
to give start to fattening sheep is in
summer. If these sheep become fat in
the fall. so much the better are they for
feeding in winter. Such sheep will stand
the cold, and gain. on much smaller ra-
ton than if they were thin in the fall:
The best western feeders of cattle wisely
give corn on pasture. Sheep feeding
should be done in the same way, except
that 1t is better to give some more nitro
genous feed with corn. The rule should
be TO push the sheep in warm weather,
and then feeding in winter win be COM
paratively easy.-NationaI Live Stock
Journal.