The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-11

FIG. ANVIL. GOOD SHROPSHIRE SHEEP
ford. will probably be more satisfac-
tory. On the ranges Of the west the
hardy Merinos are best adapted to the
conditions.
In getting start in the sheep bust
ness. especially If you have never
raised sheep. 1t is best to buy three or
four ewes OF the desired breed. In Sc
lecting ewes where mutton is to be the
chief consideration considerable atten-
ton should be paid to the mutton
type.
This is much the same as the meat
type in other animals. They should
be broad. deep and fairly long. with
good spring Of rib and broad. well Gov
cred back and loin. The rump should
be long and the hind legs well meated
both inside and out. as this. together
with the back and lon. is the most
valuable part Of the sheep. The quail
ty should he good. as shown in fine
head and bone. The constitution
should be good. as shown by depth of
chest. large nOStrilS and width between
the fore legs.
Good quality Of wool is shown by a
close, even crimp. The wool should be
dense on all parts of the body. 1t should
not be harsh. and the fiber should be
strong and not easily broken. There
Should be no dead hairs in the wool.
Sheep are often trimmed so as to APP
pear much wider and blocker than
they really are. The only way to tell
the real form of trimmed sheep is
by touch. In going over sheep with
the hands do not dig into the wool
with the fingers. thus tearing it apart
and lessening the value of the fleece.
but feel with the palms Of the out
stretched hand. In buying ewes be
sure to examine their mouths carefully.
Ewes that are down in the mouth
that is, that are so old that their teeth
are worn down to the gums-are a los
ing proposition.
Handling Breeding Sheep.
When ewes are bought of a breeder
they will usually be bred. In raising
lambs for market on any considerable
scale ewes bought on the general mar
kct are a good deal cheaper, and very
good results can he obtained if mated
to good. pure bred ram. The same
points of form spoken of in connection
with the eve should be looked after
in selecting the ram. In addition. he
should show masculinity in n strong
head. thick neck and large chest. His
legs should he strong, especially in the
hn Sh
fat. The ram should be from strain
of profitable producers.
Where Il ram lamb is used for serv-
ice fifteen or twenty ewes are as
many as ne can well handle. 1t is
better and more profitable to use
more mature sire. 4 yearling can
serve thirty to forty ewes and an old
ram sixty when they are left to run
with the flock all the time A better
plan is to turn the ram in with the
ewes for a short time only at morning
and night, keeping him in a pen by
himself the rest of the time In this
way the ram can serve double the
number Of ewes. 1t Is good plan to
smear the rams breast with paint be-
fore turning him out with the ewes.
Then after he is taken out brief
glance Will show just which ewes have
been bred. These can be marked with
ear tags or paint and the date OF serv.
Ice recorded. These ewes should be
kept in a pen by themselves for a few
days until the period OF heat is over.
Twenty weeks is the usual time Of
CESSATION In ewes. On the general
farm the preferable time tn have tn.