The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-02-06
SHEEP BREEDING.
Some Hints to Beginners In the Man
agement Of the Flock.

Begin slow and go slow. Grow up
with your work. Many Of our most
prominent flockmasters started this
way II you start with pure-bred
stock don't start with show stock, but
rather at the bottom of the ladder,
AS an amateur you will meet with dis
couragements, but keep on and you
will be successful In the end. II you
start with grades use nothing but
pure-bred rams. Sell your culls to the
butcher rather than to the novice.
The sheep is very bad animal to
| doctor, therefore, urges the Farmers
Voice, keep your flock healthy. Be
careful not to buy disease with yoI.r
flock. Sell your customers good
| animal; 1t means doing business ulti.
mately with their friends. Don't be
everlastingly changing breeds; be a
sticker. Don't attempt to tear other
breeds than that which you are hand.
ling to pieces. Have singleness and
tenacity of purpose. Don't invent
new makeshifts; such bring disaster.
Keep salt, worm powders and fresh
water before your flock at all times.
Be regular in feeding. Change pas
lures often. Don't charge your mis-
takes to bad luck. Don't allow your
new purchases to die of inconsistencies
Don't try to raise February lambs In
summer barns. Visit your state and
county shows and don't fail to exam.
inc, the contesting carcasses at the fat
stock shows. Train your eye to de
tect the thrifty or unthrifty animal.
Don't feed your sheep moldy rationa
until you enjoy such yourself. Where
possible. pasture your sheep by them.
selves. Stick to your business until
you have built up reputation and
things will come easy to you, but re-
member regulations are not a ready.
made product. You had better buy
scrubs than pure-breds unless you are
prepared to give the pure-breds
proper care. Use only the best blood
on the male side Study individuality
as well as pedigree. Infusion of blue
blood is one of the best tonics to be
administered to the flock. Observe
caution and avoid all hazardous un-
dertakings. Let the sheep you keep
be the best Of their kind. Condition
powders are all right in their way, but
good feed and care often dispense
with their use. Don't breed indis-
criminately; have an ideal and breed
to 1t. If you like sheep for dollars
and cents only, you had better keep
out of the business. Good books and
the advice of good breeders are safe
guides. but experience will teach you
something they cannot tell you. Re-
member that the British breeds are
children of care. Don't expect to
raise good stud sheep without succu-
lent rations. Change your flocks in
the cool of the morning or evening
during the hot summer months. Don't
allow dog on your farm unless it be
a well-trained shepherd dog. Don't
or very low. Keep on and In a series
of years you will make just as much
out of sheep as out of any other bust
ness. A small, well-managed flock Is
more profitable than large one poor
ly managed. Don't allow your sheep
to shift for themselves. No matter
what class of eye you keep use only
pure-bred rams. Don't feed timothy
hay If you can help 1t. Don't feed
grain in excess. Use oats in the
breeding flock In preference to corn.
Increase the grain ration Just before
lambing Feed lightly for several
days after lambing. Don't put your
money into elaborate barns before you
have found out your ability as a
shepherd. Start with good sheep,
even II they have to be good grades.