Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-28
Prof, 10 Limbs

The profits in raising early lambs for
market, and the manner of handling his
flock are given by Mr.. j. o Butman #
Readfe'd, to correspondent OF the
Mirror and Faa mer. who says: "Mr
Butman's operations in keeping and
feeding sheep are not extensive but they
are ca'eful and methodieal. Heis always
an exhibitor at The Kennebec county
fair in many classes, especially OF fruit
and farm crops; and his collection Of
apples and vegetables almost invariably
makes up large part. and always a
choice part Of the annual exhibition.
Within the past four or five years, Mr..
Butman has been giving much attention
to his flock of sheep, and has attained
some local celebrity 10 consequence OF
his success with early lambs. As
usual with successful men, Mr..
Butman Is very modest, thinks what
he has done is mot woIch speaking
Of" aud that his experience is
ONLY valuable to himself and not neces-
sarilv guide to other farmers who may
he differently situated. Mr.. Butnam be
lieves that any of the medium wooded
breeds, prov .ded they are strong, 70.
bust and well taken care OF, are good
for Maine fai ners to keep. He would
have with such flock of ewes. a full
blood Shropshire buck He insists that
one of the first things of importance is
care aud attention to the flock, not only
when they are in winter quarters and
under artificial conditions, but equally
when they are at pasture. Sheep in poor
condition cannot breed early they want
to sbe thriving and strong. In good flesh,
or they Will not breed Now sheep. &C
cording to Mr.. Butman's experience are
liable. to fall away in midsummer and
fall, unless looked after. If the season
is drv the pasture becomes short. The
heat is oppressive to sheep with their
close-fitting covering, and flies and in
sec. worry the life out Of them. Now,
unless the flock is looked after carefully,
the first thing the farmer finds out Is
once get started this way it il hard to
bring them back again. The thing to do
is to see that they do not reach this con.
dition. and this must be done by con
slant watchfulness A good pasture is
an essential Ii Is no use to make
sheep farming business. Mr..
Bulman says, without good
pasture. But even with the best pasture.
provender- small amount of twill
not hurt the sheep, every day, all sum
mer long. This extra feed. especially
during dry season when the grass is
sure to lose its quality, will keep the
sheep in good condition; they will be
lively and strong all the fall and come
to the barn in good flesh. The fine,
mixed grasses make the best winter
fore ge, aud in addition to this, Mr.. But
man feeds quart of mixed feed dav
to each sheep This mixture consists of
corn meal and, linseed bran in equal
parts. The lambs have as much Of this
provender as they will eat During the
past few years Mr.. Butman has been
breeding for early lambs. The buck
runs with the flock while they are at
pasture. and he likes to have the lambs
dropped as early as November and De-
cember. Then st three months old these
lambs are finished off for market in Feb
ruary and March-the last named month
a time when it used to be thought searly
lambs" would begin to come along-and
they will weigh from thirty to thirty
five pounds. dressed weight. Mr.. But
man thinks it pays better to breed for
lambs and mutton than it does to breed
for wool His wool has brought him 20
cents per pound the last three years. |
am only able to present few figures as
to Mr. Butman's receipts from hi, flock,
but they are sufficient to indicate the
high success he has reached, and that he
is right in keeping on in this line of
breeding. Last winter he had IS lambs
that went to market in February and
March, and the net cash, deduetiDg for
I ost OF feed, care, taxes and all. received
from this lot of Is lambs s297. This
last spring he footed up as the profits OF
his flock of 20 sheep, over $500, in. wool
md l.mhs