Year: 1860

The profit OF fattening sheep during the win
ter months, in this country, depends principal
ly on the increased price obtained for mutton
10 the spring. In England, where tattenng
sheep in winter is carried on more extensively
than in any other country, the profit is due sim
ply to the increase of mutton, and to the value
Of the manure obtained from the sheep. As a
gen, raj rule, the fat sheep in February or
March are worth no more per pound than the
lean sheep were the October previous. We
have heard experienced English farmers say
that il they sold their fat sheep in the spring
for enough more than their cost in the autumn
10 pay for the grain or oil cake which they had
eaten, they were satisfied That Is TO saw
they considered the manure from the sheep.
equal in value to the turnips and straw consu
med The profits Of cattle or sheep feeding
in England, depend principally on the question
whether the farmer can obtain manure cheaper
by purchasing cattle food or artificial fertali
Zers.


In this country, we have hitherto given little
attention to tie manurial aspect of the ques-
ton; but it is beginning to force itself upon our
attention. II we have obtained no more per
pound for mutton in the spring than we do in
the fall, as is the case in England we believe
fattening sheep in winter would not pay, even
after taking the value of the manure into &C.
count. This is owing to the comparatively
low price of meat in this country. For instance
sheep weighing say 80 lbs, will eat 20 lbs of
hay per week, or its equivalent; and, If OF the
best breed, will increase - lbs. Thus, one
ton OF hay would give $50 lbs. of increased live
weight, worth say cents per ID. This would
give 81 so for each one ton of hay, or its equiv
alent. But assuming that we can buy sheep in
tie fall for 2ls cents per lb, and sell them in
February OF March for cents por lb, the ac-
count would stand something like this: sheep
weighing 80 lbs. the lst Of November, costs Sc
! Fed till March 1st--say 16 weeks-he would
weigh, reckoning as before that he would in
creese IL lbs. per week, 104 lbs. At cents
per h., he is worth S5,20--leaving $500 to-
day for his food. He has eaten in the l6 weeks
800 lbs of hay or 20 lbs. per:week. In either
words, We get So, 20 lbs Of hay, or $40 per
ton. If then, mutton was as high in the fall as
in the spring, say cents per h., live weight,
we should obtain only $50 per ton for the hay
consumed by the sheep; but if it can be bought
for half the price in the fall that it commands
in the pr,ng, we obtain $50 per ton for the
hay. These figures may not be absolutely cor
rect but we give them to illustrate the advan-
tage which our farmers have in being able to
obtain much :higher price for meat in the
spring than in the fall. Those who contend
that fattening sheep in winter is not profitable,
are apt to overlook this fact.


We speak advisedly when we say that there
is much more profit in iattening sheep during
the winter in this country, under the present
circumstances, than there is in England not.
withstanding the higher price obtained there
for mutton. IF the profit Of fattenng sheep in
winter depended solely on the increase Of the
sheep, it il certain that the largs breed Of nut.
ton sheep, say Cotswold, Leicester or South
down, would be the most profitable sheep to
fatten, as they will increase more for the food
consumed than the Merino. There can be no
doubt on this point But as we have shown,
this is not tho only question. We must go
back Of this, and see which breed Of sheep can
be bought at tho lowest price per pound in the
fall. At present, there can be no doubt that
the common sheep OF the country, " ith more
or less Merno blood in them, can be bought
the cheapest Whether il will always be sd OF
not, Is another question. II Is quite possible
that it will prove TO be a fact, that the ifne
wooled sheep can be raised up to the age when
they are usually turned Off for the butcher, OF
to fatten at less cost than the Iasger coarse.
wooled sheep. They have been kept principal
iy for their wool this commands higher prics
and the proportion ofwcol to the weight Of ,hg