Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-06-16

Mr.. Thomas Shaw. of the Minnesota
State Agricultural College, is the best
recognized authority on sheep breed
ing in the West. In an interesting
article In the Northwestern Agricult-
urist he answers some questions that
occur to many farmers as to breeds,
breeding. feeding and management:
"The breed or grade of sheep should
be guaged by the object of the grower.
II he wishes to raise pure breds, the
most money, as fashion runs now,
would probably be made from Home OF
the Down breeds. as, for instance, the
Shropshire Oxford Down or South
down. But taking 1t for granted that
grade sheep are meant. ! would un-
hesitatingly recommend what may be
called common ewes OF good form. by
good form l 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 Merino
blood But grade Merinos will answer
to begin with, for they are very hardy.
OF these pure-bred rams only should
be used, and preferably those of the
dark faced breeds. But 1t Is not al
ways necessary to 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 we'll. But try and get
good, pure-bred rams. This is all-im-
portant. On 200 acres of good rich
land 500 sheep and lambs could be
| grown per year. But to do that would
require skillful management. Proba-
bly, half that number could ordinarily
be kept. At one station farm we have
pastured sixteen ewes and lambs all
summer for two successive summers
but that was by what may be termed
forced system of production. The
number, of course, will largely be reg
ulated by the skill of the flock master
the nature of the soil and the size OF
the sheep. The net income viii vary
with the size and quality of the sheep
and with the wool product. But good
well-gruwn lamb at one year should
weigh 130 pounds on an average. That
weight Is far above the average here
but that II Is SO Is not the fault Of the
sheep. A well finished lamb at the
age of ten to twelve months should
bring ordinarily at home from four Il
five and a half cents per pound liv'
weight. Ordinarily they don't bring
nearly that much. but that is not thu
fault of the lambs, but rather Of th'
growers. Such q lamb should shea.
from, say seven to twelve pounds o
wool, according to the grade. TIL,
fleece Of older sheep would be caupl'
of pounds less. The best pasture Is
big question. Winter rape sown lat
in August will provide excellent fal
and spring pasture. After the rye
eaten off in the spring, 1t may be fol
lowed by the Dwarf Essex rape or b
sorghum. All these make exceilen
pastures. When the lambs do nc
come till the grass Is plentiful, eve
may be wintGred very well in a she
made of poles and covered SO deepl
with straw as to prevent rain froi
dripping through, but IL the lambs al
to come early it is imperative to hay
) warm lambing pens. While sheeI
HusDdHuEy 10 uiOlo easily ioaAhOu eha
managing of other kinds of live stocl
let me drop a word of caution to thot
who have never kept sheep. The
, should begin gradually where they a.
unable to command the services of 8
experienced shepherd. Everywhel
unless on marshy land, I would lii
to see people going into sheep. The
cannot do better. But again | say b
n gin gradually.