, 1925-07-30
ON SHOWS
LAMB INCREASE
FOR YEAR 1925

states that have a larger lamb crop
this year than last, as shown by a
survey recently made by the Depart
ment of Agriculture. Eight other
western sheep states show a smaller
number of lambs saved this spring
than that of a year G while the sew
enteen so called native sheep states
all show an increase. For the coun-
try as a whole an increase of 5.5 per
cen in the lamb crop owe last year
and a percentage of yearling ewes in
breeding flocks more than sufficient
for requirements are shown. The
tendency for expansion is most mark
ed in native farm flocks and in small
flocks in the western states.
The number of lambs saved in
Wyoming as a percentage of ewes
over one year old January l, 1925
is SO per cent, of ewes two years old
and over on June /, 1925, S5.6 per
cent, and of all ewes including yearl-
ings June l, 1925, 70.S per cent.
The lamb crop is ten per cent larger
than that of last veal and is due
largely to a very favorable Landing
season with quite a number of twins
saved, Losses have been very light
and the larger part of the crop is
composed of strong thrifty individ-
uals.
The survey shows that the number
of yearling ewes on June l was 10
per cent of all ewes one year old or
over at that time for the United
States, for the native states POL per
cent, and for the western States ISL
per cent. The percentage of yearl-
ing ewes to all lambs raised last year
tof which crop they are a part) is
2S.2 for he United States; 1913 for
the native states, II .26.S for the
western. A conservative estimate
for average annual requirements of
breeding sheep to maintain flocks for
the United States is thought to be
one eve lamb to five older ewes on
January l, or 20 per cen as many
coming yearlings as other ewes. The
survey shows 24.3 per cent for the
United States, 24.O per cent for the
native states, and 21.6 per cent for
the western states.
Considerable difference is shown
between the two regions as to the
percentage of lambs saved to breed
ing ewes. The number of breeding
ewes January l is taken as the basis
for computing the lamb crop. The
figures for the native states are 99.S,
iol INC "tSttlH sS-J. anu lpI TIE |
United States $50. Since. however,
the practice of breeding eve lambs,
which is quite general in the native
states, is followed very little in the
western states, the percentage of
lambs saved to all ewes, (inluding
yearlings) on June is also shown.
The increase of 5.5 per cen in the
number of lambs this year compared
to last, for the United States, is due
to the large increases reported in
the native states, the western states
showing a decrease. The figures are
122 per cent for the native states,
and 97.7 per cent for the western.
The decrease in the western states
was caused by the smaller average
percentage Of lambs saved as the es-
timated number of breeding ewes
was larger this year than last.
The increase in the native states
may be attributed to considerable eN-
tent to the increased number of
farmers handling sheep. In many
states. over Is per cent of the re-
turns were from farmers who report !
ed no lambs raised last year. While
cards showing unusually large re-
turns of this kind were omitted, 1t is
possible that part of the Increase in
lambs shown in some OF the native
states is due to the large number
of new flocks reported not being suf-
ficiently offset by returns from farm
ers who had given up sheep raising.
However, in view of the very favor
able weather for lambing this year
and the undoubted increase in the
number Of small flocks. It Is thought
that the figures shown are fairly rep
Returns from small flocks in the
western states showed much the
same percentage increase in lambs
this year as did the native states,
with comparable numbers reporting
lambs this year and none last.
The survey was made partly
through the rural mail carriers in
cooperation with the Post office
Department, because OF the small