News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-12-11
A FLOCK OF SHEEP,
The Views of n Farmer who has had Ex-
perience in sheep Raising.

Mr.. E. Van Alstyne, Kinderhook,
N. Y, one of our most successful young
farmers, in paper read not long since
before the local club, gave valuable
facts from his own experience. Twenty
five or thirty years ago every farm had
sheep; now, very few are kept, and
focks do not number over fifteen to
twenty-five; so is considered large, apd
100 exceptional. The dog question l.
solving itself in a degree in our county.
The tax has accumulated such a fund
that farmers can now get paid for dam
age done without waiting two or three
years. But the market value of the
bitten sheep does not pay for the dam
age. The whole flock is injured. One
safeguard is hurdles, six to eight feet
high, surrounding an inclosure of suit
able size. Into this the flock should be
driven at night aud let out early in the
morning. But sheep do not do well uD
der such circumstances, as in hot
weather they do most of their feeding
at night. Another plan is to fence the
pasture with barbed wires, the lower
three of the five not more than six
inches apart, lest the sheep crowd
through.
Years ago, when high prices prevailed
for hay and grain, farmers lessened the
number of all kinds of stock, but that
was mistake. . Fine crops of wheat and
clover used to be raised; now, few farm
ers raise wheat, and clover does not
'catch" well. Our farms need to be
improved, and Strengthening is one way
to do it. Sheep return 80 per cent. of
what they eat, and their droppings are
well scattered, especially upon the high
and dry places that need manure most.
The remaining 10 per cent. is returned
to the soil by the atmosphere and the
| rain, so there is no loss. Another argu
rnent in favor of sheep is, they cAnftpe
pastured on land stony or otherwise I'm
tiIlable Judiciously managed, such
soil increases in fertility. In q certain
sense, sheep are scavengers, as they eat
much that horses and cattle reject
Figures from his account books show
that sheep can be profitably kept on
land worth 500 to $3.50 per acre-con-
trary to the opinion of many. Our
farms will not average over Is bushels
of rye to the acre; at rs cents per BUSH
ell, S112 5; one half ton straw, 81 so, to-
tai, SIS. rs. Seed, 81. u; labor, 81, total,
So. II; profit, S13.63. Or, ton hay,
SIS; labor, s. so; profit, S1250. Some
farms would yield more, but many less.
Fifty sheep can be kept ON 274 acres
they will average one 80-pound lamb,
81; wool, $1.50; total, So so. This will
make a profit of $40 per acre. They
will improve the summer pasture and
the winter feed will yield fifteen to
twenty loads of rich manure, worth S25
to $50, and which always brings large
crops of corn and potatoes. He advised
against buying Vermont sheep; prefers
Michigan sheep, which have wool well
down on the body. Sheep should not
run upon wet land. The large sheep
should have their feet trimmed; over
growth of hoof favors foot-rot this
overgrowth should be pared off with
sharp knife and mallet. Soon as signs
of scab show, turn at once to butcher,
Sheep are inclined to be delicate; their
skin is thin /; they should be housed in
wet weather. Lambs exposed to cold
and wet are never so good. Don't
hurry to turn out in the spring, because
the haymow is getting low. They
should be fed grain when they come III
nights. Keep until five years old; they
will shear five and a half pounds OF
wool, and with good care, eight pounds.
AT five years old they are full size and
make good mutton. Wool then begins
to drop and they lose their teeth.
Does not keep yearlings as they are
poor mothers and do not shear much.
January lambs need warm shelter;
hired help not to be trusted to look
after them. They need meal or will be
stunted. They bring from SIS to Sc, but
not much profit considering extra care
and risk. Lambs coming about March
10 and ready TO turn off from July to
September at 81, are more profitable.
The best time to buy Western sheep is
about September l. They do better for
the change of feed. Always prefers to.
buy from some section where they don't
feed so we'll as he does. Don't leave
out too late in the fall and feed well
through winter. Gives Just enough
| clover or fine hay that they will eat up
clean. Begins feeding corn not later
than February 1, small quantity at first
and gradually increase or they will lose
wool. Last winter tried brewers grains
as an experiment. Fed seventy-fiye
ewes; they did well; lambs strong;
plenty of milk. Can be purchased by
carload in June for to 10 cents per
Oushel; in winter, u to 20 cents. Cost
If feeding grains, one cent each per day.
and considerable saving of hay. Don't
think twin lambs profitable. Keeps
his 1ocks good by looking them over in
the fall and wedding out poor ones
to sell to butcher and buys others.
Farmers who do not care to keen
sheep through summer will find Il
profitable to winter them. Good lambs
can be bought for 50 to $50 each, ard
sell in spring for sc. Would begin
in November to feed one bushel corn n
day to so sheep; 100 bushels corn, $50: s
tons of hay, $50; 100 bushels small no
tatOes, $25; total expense feeding, $165.
This leaves msr9in for profit besides
twenty loads valuable manure. Having
large apple orchards, he has found il
profitable to pasture sheep in them.
Experimental with a flock in one
orchard and next year found the apples
Of better quality, fairer and less wormy.
1t is common opinion that sheep do
not need water in winter; they will
drink great deal of pure water if they
can get If. Dew in summer and snow
in winter is not sufficient. Farmers
should eat less pork and more mutton of
their own raising. 1t would be wisdom to
hold on to the fiocks and keep right on
improving their mutton and wool quail
ties, especially the former. There is an
increasing demand for good mutton in
our markets w, Y, S. BEFKMAN,