The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-09
Some Profitable Sheep Experience.

Some Profitable Sheep Experience.
This is the time of year for
sheep feeders 10 increase the gains,
gu ,lity, and selling prices. Let us
see to it that they are properly
cared for. l have in mind flock
of lambs that are making their
owner a neat sum every day OF
this fine fall weather because of a
little thoughtful management.
This is how it is being done.
The owner had so head of home
grown lambs of extra good quality.
On September 4th he purchased
$40 he I'D of western lambs weigh
ing Al pounds each, and costing
Sass delivered at the farm. A
90 acre field of second growth
clover was rented for 500. The
entire 600 head were turned into
this field for two months, receiv.
ing no other feed than the clover,
which was quite heavy. The
field was slightly rolling, well
drained prairie land. A grove OF
trees on a side hill was the only
shelter the sheep had access to.
On November S these lambs
were weighed and on that date
showed a gain of exactly 10
pounds each. This gain must be
credited to the 800 worth of clover.
The actual cost OF the gain was
only a little more than one-halt
cent per pound.
At this time the lambs were
started on a corn ration. They
also had the run of the clover
field, which contained an abund.
ance of feed. They are to be
marketed about the middle of Dec.
cember. What they will do dur
ing the next five or six weeks is
not a matter of doubt, but one of
management. With good care
these lambs should double their
gains; that is they should put on 20
pounds before going to market. OF
course this gain will cost more be-
cause of the more concentrated
form of the food, but we must re
member that this is the gain that
improves the quality of the lambs
The selling price of every pound
of these lambs is increased by the
fat that they put on each day.
S me may say that the profit
was all in buying of the lambs
aud the renting of the clover pas
ture This may DE true. Still
they were thousands of lambs that
sold on the market under S cents,
and a great deal of second crop
clover was cut for seed this fall
that did not thrash out two bushels
per acre. On many farms this
second crop of clover was left
standing in the fields for the stock
to range over during the com
ing winter. A large percentage
OF its feeding value will be lost.
In This instance we have the actual
value of second croL clover sci
before us.
There are other fields on the
farm where feeder lambs mig hit
range with profit. Directly across
the road from the flock mentioned
another bunch OF western lambs
had cleaned out a corn field of
all weeds and leaves as high as
they could reach, making the
husking of the corn much easier
This would also be an advantage
where the corn is to be cut for
fodder, as the lower leaves are
usually wasted in that process
Rape sowed in the corn at the last
cultivation is another source of
cheap forage for sheep. Rape in
small grain makes a wonderful
growth after the grain is harvested
and is second only to clover as a |
pasture crop for sheep. 1t also
makes a good growth after DO
tatoes or buckwheat have been
harvested. In states where these
two crops are grown extensively |
this point is worth consideration =
G L Agne in the Homestead.