Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-05-01
Some Hints About Sheep Raising.


sets State Board of Agriculture:
Let us look at the advantages of
Strengthening.
have no answer to make to the
unthrifty farmer who, in nearly every
assembly, will rise and tell OF sheep
dearly bought, neglected in the fold,
or turned upon inadequate pastures,
whose tumbled walls but tempted
them to jump out that watered from
stagnant pools, persisted with "liver
rot; or, infected with parasites OF
the skin, became poor, scabby wretch
es, showing loss from beginning TO
end; wish to speak to those who
would undertake any branch of hus-
bandry with thoughtful care, and in
form themselves thoroughly as to the
best breed for their purpose and how
to manage it for the greatest profit
with the least risk.
Let us then consider how to get a
flock of sheep. | call twenty-five
sheep equal to three cows in the cost
of winter keeping and care. Buying
them in the fall might do to begin,
if one wished to make an easy ac-
quantance with sheep, and have
lambs dropped without risk in May in
pasture but the best purchase would
be made at midsummer, of thrifty
ewes from two to five years OF age
that had weaned their lambs these
should be put in good pasture, well
fenced, and thoroughbred ram, the
best that can be obtained, put with
them every night after the 10th to
the 18th of August. This is with the
view to raise the earliest lambs that
can be had, that may be sent fat to
the New York market, when from
forty-five to fifty days old. When
the weather is cold and grass turns
yellow, take up your sheep and yard
them with shelter that cannot, under
any circumstances Of storm, be shut
tight.
Sheep never suffer from cold they
will lie out on dry snow and ice, but
they avoid high winds and do not
like to wet their skins. Shut in, they
pant and sweat under their heavy
! fleeces
Feed twice day what they will
eat clean of corn fodder, oat straw,
rye hay, or meadow hay that you
would not like to give to the cows; a
light litter of straw or oats to keep
the floor dry and clean and here |
will add that the floor Of the sheep
shed should be the ground. Allow
about pint of grain to each, at a
noon feeding, and give free access to
! good water.
With small flock there need be no
special arrangement of space for
lambing time; an inside room, or
empty bay, may be used, if conven-
lent, and the observant shepherd can
easily tell within a few hours of the
time for dropping the lambs, and sep
arate the ewes from the flock.
In the months of January and Feb
ruary, which is the best time to have
your lambs, they are liable to come
into cold world, and if the mercury
is about z-ro the wet little thing may
be chilled and die at moment Of birth;
here the shepherds skill is wanted to
| help the tender creature to get some
of its mothers warm milk which will
! so quicken the current Of life that it
will be safe against cold ever alter.
The ewes with lambs should have the
best of feeding for milk oats, good
bran and plenty of rowen hay.
No more meadow hay or coarse fod-
der for them. \ creep should be
arranged by which the lambs can pass
into a separate space, where low
rack filled with sweet rowen and
troughs in which n mixture OF best
corn meal and old process linseed
meal. three parts corn to one of lin
seed, should always be kept, and they
may eat all they want.
If the ewes are good mixers, lambs
so kept will go to market at forty TO
fifty days old, weighing from twenty
two to twenty-eight pounds, and il
this is III March or April they will
bring not less than eight dollars.
Lambs taken off early leave the
ewes in good condition to fat for
market, or TO turn out to pasture at
the right time.
The ewes should be MIXED for a
few days after taking the lamb away.
Among the breeds recommended
there is much choice. | see contin-
uous recommendation of CotswoIds.
do not want them. They are not fit
for our climate, and are not so good
for early lambs. Do not buy long
legged, narrow, jumping natives,
that some one has bred without care
until they are run out For thorough
breds, Shropshires, Hampshires, Ok
fords, and Southdowns have equal
estimation, and bunch of good grade
ewes, with a thoroughbred ram Of
any one of these breeds, will do well.
| would also have thoroughbred
eve or so with the ram so as to raise
reliable stock.
Shear your flocks early, as you can
spare the time, while still under shell
ter. Then they will be fit to go out
to pasture and ready to stay there.
We do not wash sheep in these days.
Uuwashed wool has a ready market
If YOU do not like the wool market,