Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-10-03
PROFIT IN SHEEP RAISING.
some High Prices Realized in salem
County North Jersey Par
tfcuIarIy suited.

t1cularIy Suited.
successful farmer and stoekman in
Salem county furnishes some interesting
figures from the income Of his flock of grade
ewes. He has been producing early lambs
for the past 30 years and says that not
single crop has failed to net him splendid
profit; furthermore, he has the figures to
show such transactions. In August, 1905, he
purchased 100 ewes for $500 from drover.
He flushed them and some Of them setsled
very early, as is shown by the fact that on
December 21 he sold four lambs at $3.50
each. All the early lambs were disposed
OF for an average of IS each, up until April
5, when all that were salabIe were disposed
of at 81 each; the balance of The crop sold
on June 27 at S4 each From 81 ewes be
sold 460 pounds of wool at "a cents; the
total sales Of lambs amounted to S645 50.
making a total of SS77s50 received from
lambs, wool and Gull sheep The flock re-
served was composed of IS ewes, the
choicest and best mothers of the flock, and
realized more for these Is than the original
cost of the flock. The tieeces and lambs
dropped more than paid for the ewes, while
a generous profit for feed fed, besides the
added fertility to the soil. was especially
noticeable
The IS ewes were kept oyer for another
season, no special care or feed given until
mating season, when the pasture WAS
changed and the ram turned loose. Records
show that $40 pounds of wool were sold at
27 cents per pound; the lambs created an
income which totalled S41s, and the total
sales of lambs, wool, culls, etc amounted
TO $943. So. The greater portion of the
| flock was disposed of, however, and the
year was one most unfortunate for lambs
and sheep. Still the income was worthy OF
note and netted genuine profit The
figures for the 1907 crop are not complete
as yet, but will be given in -ssese. columns
later. The record, however, 50 far promises
to excel either of the above.
When it is known that this farm is fed
little, if any commercial fertilizer, ard that
the Yields of corn and wheat excel those Of
its neighbor, it is worth while following the
practice of sheep raising. The dairy inter-
ests in that section rank first. but The help
problem is rapidly puzzling the COW own
ers. There is reason to believe that the
sheep industry can nicely replace potion
of the milk making on many faims and
that the net ineame will be increased rather
than decreased. North Jersey, especially
Hunterdon, Warren and Sussex counties,
have conditions and pasture land more
favorable than is found in this section for
sheep raising Some splendid specimens Of
the different breeds Of sheep.are being pur-
chased for use at the Short Courses in Agri-
culture which convene on December 3.
A new judging pavilion and horse barn is
uuder course OF construction, and every
thing will be in readiness for some practi-
cal work in all departments at the opening
of the term No farmers son can afford to
has decided to be a farmer and has liking
for that line of work The Short Courses
are preferable to long courses in many
ways, especially for those whose time is
valuable and who have not the funds TO
take them through four years course, and
who expect TO return to the farm and fol-
low any Of the various lines Of agriculture.