The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-06-22


State Agricultural College. IL the best
recognized authority on sheep breed
Ing In the West In an interesting
article In the Northwestern Agrlcult-
urlst he answers some questions that
occur 20 many farmers as 70 breeds.
breeding. feeding and management;
"Tho breed or grade Of sheep should
be guaged BY the object Of the grower.
II he wishes 10 raise pure breds. the
most money. as fashion runs now,
would probably be made from some Of
the Down breeds. as. for instance, the
Shropshire. oxford Down or South
down. But taking Il for granted that
Grade sheep are meant. ] would I'M
hoaitatingly recommend what may be
called common ewes Of good form. By
good form mean compact. round.
plump bodies. good. full. wide breasts.
long and deep hind quarters. and legs
short rather than long would not
care much what the breeding was pro-
vided there was not too much herino
blood. But grade Merinos will answer
10 begin with. for they are very hardy.
OF these pure-brcd rams only should
be used. and preferably those Of the
dark faced breeds. But Il Is not al
ways necessary 10 use such rams A
cross OF the long woods. as for In
stance the leicester. the Lincoln or
the Cotswold made now and then may
answer very well. But try and get
good. pure-bred rams. This Il all-im-
portant on 200 acres Of good rich
land 500 sheep and lambs could Be
grown per year. But 20 DO that would
require skillful management Proba-
bly, half that number could ordinarily
be kept. AZ one station farm we have
paatured sixteen ewes and lambs all
sumner for two successive summers.
but that was by what may be termed
a forced system Of production. The
number. Of course. viii largely be reg
ulated by the skill OF the flock master,
tho nature OF the soil and the size Of
the sheep. The net income will vary
with the size and quality OF the sheep.
and with the wool product But a good
well-grown lamb AZ one year should
weigh $50 pounds on an average. That
weight Is far above the average here.
but that II IL 70 IL not the fault Of the
sheep. A well flashed lamb az the
age Of ten 10 twelve months should
bring ordinarily az home from four 20
ave and a half cents per pound live
weight Ordinarily they don't bring
nearly that much. but that is not the
fault Of the lambs. but rather OF the
growers. Such a lamb should shear
from. say seven 20 twelve pounds Of
wool. according 10 the grade The
fleece Of older sheep would be a couple
OF pounds lesA The best pasture Is q
big question. Winter rape sown late
IN August win provide excellent fall
and srrlng pasture After the rye Is
eaten on In the spring. Il may be fol-
lowed BY the Dwarf Essex rape or BY
sorghum. An these make excellent
pastures. When the lambs DO not
come all the grass is plentiful. cWea
nay be wintcred vcry well 10 a shed
made Of poles and covered 90 deeply
with straw as 10 prevent rain from
dripping through. but n the lambs are
10 come carly Il Is imperative 10 have
warm landing pcna While sheep
huEbandry Is more easily learned than
managing Of other kinds Of live stock.
let me drop a word Of caution 10 those
Who have never kept sheep. They
should begin gradually where they are
unable 20 command the services OF an
experienced shepherd. Everywhore
unless on marshy land. would ike
to sec people going into sheep. They
cannot DO better. But again say be-
gin gradually.