rogressive ieepRaising '/' iwrz^'^' 'm^Mrn^ ^^e of refrigerator cars, had previously been used by others. Previous to 1880 Mr. Armour, who was also responsible for the actual building and operation of the first whole line of refrigerator cars, killed no sheep in his several packing plants. Pork was the ideal packing meat, as it still is; and fresh meats had not yet become a commodity on the market. In fact, packing houses were operated only during the winter months, and no meats at all were packed in summer until after large-scale refrigerative control had been estab- lished. TA ]W /•* Beef — pickled, smoked and dried — followed I he Mutton pork as a commodity on the market. The Market Devel- world's appetite for fresh meats was satisfied oped Last ^^^y iJ^sofar as home slaughter and the local butcher could satisfy it. But mutton, being strictly a fresh meat product, and not lending itself to pickling, smoking and drying, became a world commodity only after the ■development of refrigerated transportation. In 1880 Mr. Armour began killing a few sheep in Chicago to supply the local market. The large-scale slaughter and distribution of sheep in the new world had to await not only the development of a great line of refrigerator cars and scores of branch houses, but the development of the public taste for mutton and a mutton type of sheep to satisfy that growing taste. The first Armour branch house was The Present erected in New York City in 1 884. This was Armour Market immediately followed by one in Albany. By 1 8qo there were.forty branches, and this num- ber had doubled before 1 894. Today the market through which Armour disposes of the vast number of high-grade lambs and sheep purchased annually for cash from the American farmer consists of more than four hun- dred branch houses in this country alone. Several thousand refrigerator cars are constantly in operation between the twenty Armour packing plants and these hundreds of branch houses. A great system of side industries has been developed to utilize all of the by-products, in the manufacture and sale of such articles as glue, glycerine, violin strings, pepsin and fertilizer, which enables us to pay the sheep raiser a maximum price for his live animals Armour's Farm Service Bureau This book has been prepared under the auspices of Armour's Farm Service Bureau, which has been organized to study the whole Armour system of industries in their relation to farm production, to serve as a middle- ground of information and co-operation between the several Armour industries and the farmer and to make researches into problems of farm production. It is our hope that this bureau will fulfill a useful mission in Citablishing a closer understanding and co-operation between the producer and the packer in particular; but also, in a broader sense, between the farmer and the business man, and between business and our educational institutions. Table of Contents PAGE INTRODUCTION, by F. Edson White 3 THE SHEEP SITUATION TODAY q Why Sheep Went West Q The Present Eastward Trend lo Increased Importance of Sheep 1 1 . The Opportunity 1 1 The Breeder Safe 12 Relation of Breeder and Feeder 12 The Sheep Market 12 Prospects for Prices 13 THE SHEEP IN FARM ECONOMY 14 The Ranch Vanishing 14 The Farm the Place for Sheep 14 Relation to Weeds and Waste 14 Value of Sheep Manure 15 RAISE SHEEP FOR MEAT 17 Wool Supply Follows Mutton 17 Should We Sell Lambs 17 A Lamb Market Necessary 18 Should Encourage Lamb Consumption 18 BREEDS AND BREEDING 20 Secure Breeding Stock 20 Breeding Ewes 20 Renew Stock with Pure Bred Ram 21 General Classification of Breeds 21 Types of the Different Breeds 22 Fine Wool vs. Mutton Breeds 23 PAGE Cross Breeding 23 In the Mating Season 24 During Pregnancy 24 Suggestions for Lambing Time 24 A First Aid Outfit 25 Caring for the Ewe 25 Caring for the Lamb 25 MARKETING MUTTON AND LAMB 26 What Are the Market Demands 26 Early Spring or Hot-House Lambs 26 Spring Lambs 26 Fed Lambs 27 Imported Sheep and Lambs 28 THE FEEDING OF SHEEP 29 Feeding Ewes iq At Lambing Time 29 Begin Feeding at Ten Days 30 Healthy Lambs Economize Feeds 30 Feeding for Breeders or for Market 31 Gains From Different Grains 31 Rations Worked Out by Experiment Stations 31 Rations for Fattening Lambs 32 Calculating Feeding Costs 33 How to Fatten Sheep 34 Substitute Barley for Wheat 35 The Wool Pays the Feed Bill 36 Self Feeders Should Not be Used 36 GOOD PASTURES A BASIC CROP 37 Good Pastures Important 38 Value of Native Grass 38 PAGE Rye, Good and Easy to Grow 38 Vetch and Rye , 38 Alfalfa and Oats. 39 The Clovers 39 Do Not Graze Clover too Young 39 Rape and Cabbage as Feeds 40 Trees in Pasture 40 GENERAL CARE AND MANAGEMENT 41 Care of Sheep 41 Culling the Flock 41 Shearing 42 Docking of Lambs 42 Castration of Lambs 43 Dogs a Great Hindrance 43 Why Not Have Dog Laws 44 A Uniform Dog Law 44 Sheep Husbandry 45 DISEASES OF SHEEP 46 Sheep Diseases Classified 46 External Diseases. 46 Stomach Worms 47 Nodular Disease 47 Treating Internal Diseases 47 Dipping 48 Avoid Bloating 48 By-Products of the Sheep 49 Table of Receipts at Seven Markets 51 Table Showing Range of Lamb Prices 51 List of Officers of the Various Sheep Breeders' Associations 52 References , 54 PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Progr^sive Sheep Raising By R. J. H. De Loach, Director Armour's Burma of Agricultural Research and Economics The Sheep Situation Today THE year 1915 marked a new era in the American Sheep industry. It was then that the national movement was started for putting sheep back on our American farms. For many years prior to that time Why Sheep the drift of tiie sheep raising industry V/ent West in this country had been toward the great free ranges of the far west. Grazing lands with an abundance of wild grasses were plentiful and the cost of raising sheep under such condi- tions was abnormally low, from the viewpoint of a trained economist who insists upon assigning to everything — even wild pasture land — its true economic value, and the grasses gleaned from them were not represented in the prices of the sheep which came from them to the mid- west and eastern markets. Meanwhile the improved and cultivated lands of the eastern states were rapidly increasing in value. The o^A^ers specialized more and more upon the crops v/hich yielded the best returns and against which there was no abnormal competition from the west. Consequently, grain, vegetables, hogs and dairying became more prev- alent and the sheep population dwindled in proportion. Page Nine PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING There are still great areas of these Present fj-gg ranges. It is economy and in the Eastward public interest that they should be Trend fully utilized. In fact, more attention should be given to this than ever before. In 1916 our public lands suitable for grazing amounted to about 750,000,000 acres and supported 1,750,000 cattle and 7,850,000 sheep. However, that condition is passing and will soon go the way of the Buffalo and the Longhom Steer. The increasing population of the country and the decreasing acreage of these ranges, due to settlement, have com- bined in recent years to take up som^ of the slack and force a closer grazing, which makes it necessary to use more and more concentrates to finish range sheep for market. These conditions are gradually bringing u\. the cost of range sheep until now, under favorable con- ditions, sheep can be raised and finished for market on the farm almost as cheaply as on the ranges. The farmers who settle this land will, of course, continue to raise sheep on it, but it will be on a basis similar to that of the small farmer in the East. The cost of raising these sheep will never again be so low as it was on the free range. The high prices of mutton and wool, suddenly sharpened by the world war, were no doubt responsible for the awakening of the farmers to this change in the economic situation with regard to sheep raising and the resulting nation-wide movement to get our farm lands re-stocked with sheep. We are now beginning to learn for the first time what the sheep really stands for. We are beginning to appre- ciate it as a national asset. Of all m.eat animals it may be that the sheep will eventually prove the most indispensa- ble. Lamb meat already stands at the top — and wool has Paf,e Ten PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING no equal as a fiber for the manufacture of clothing. Ade- quate substitutes may yet be found for leather and other by-products of meat animals, but there is little likelihood of our ever finding a suitable substitute for wool. J . The Army had to be clothed as well increasea ^g f^^ -^q^i ^^3 ^^^q best if not the Importance only material out of which suitable of Sheep clothing could be made, and it required the wool of twenty sheep to outfit each soldier. This combination of circumstances has created a world-wide interest in the sheep industry, marking, as we say above, a new era in the American industry and giving impetus to the backward swing of the sheep population from the free ranges of our far west to the thousands of mid-west and eastern farms from which they had formerly disappeared. Those who think of entering the The Oppor- business of sheep breeding naturally tunity ask themselves, what are the chances for a permanent sheep and wool market? Such a question is fully justified. The following news item is quoted from the United States Food Admin- istration in February, 191 8: "It is probable that Europe for many years after the war will look to a great extent to America for its meat supply. "Europe's herds are dwindling under war's demands faster than they can be replenished. "When the German armies retired from occupied por- tions of France and Belgium approximately 1,800,000 head of cattle were appropriated. This addition virtually safeguarded Germany from the cattle shortage other nations now suffer." While sheep are not specifically mentioned in this report, yet the decline in all kinds of livestock has a direct bearing on any branch of the industry. Besides there is a world shortage of sheep amounting to many million head. Page Eleven PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING In these days of high priced wool The Breeder and mutton, sheep breeders have Safe reaped large benefits. They have had good pastures and the natural wastes of the farms or the ranches, and have made money almost without exception. This is borne out by personal interviews with many of the best breeders in the country. Each year hundreds of breeders The Relation find themselves with more sheep than of Breeder they have provided feeds for, and find and Feeder ^^ expedient to send a part of the flock to market before it is finished. At the same time hundreds of feeders with a surplus of feeds have found it both convenient and profitable to buy up these flocks and finish them for a later market. This is a safe and legitimate operation if conducted with calm judgment. Within the past few months (written March, iqi8) a number of farmers have bought good light lambs at high prices, finished them on costly feeds and put them on the market, making fair money in most cases, breaking about even in some, and actually losing money in a few. This has caused some confusion and misunderstanding, but it has been due to an unfortunate combination of circumstances, which will sometimes happen in any business. We have every reason to believe The Sheep that there is a world shortage of sheep. Market in which event the market is safe for several years to come. Whatever conditions may be brought about by the present war, we can feel assured that the law of supply and demand will always regulate prices, which in turn regulates the plainting of crops and the breeding of meat animals. This world shortage of sheep has helped to stimulate the industry, and popularize the raising of mutton and lamb and, we feel Page Twelve PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING justified in saying, has provided a broad and firm founda- tion for the industry as a business venture. We feel safe in saying that the prices Prospects of mutton and wool will remain high for Prices for several years after the war closes. Since the war began our standards of living have continued to go steadily higher, and the scale of values all along the line has advanced. We anticipate a greater demand for meat after the war than ever before, due to the fact that thousands of young men who have not been accustomed to a regular meat diet are being educated to expect it while in the army, and will not be inclined to do without it when they return to their respective homes. Page Thirteen PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISI N G The Sheep In Farm Economy Much of the public land in the west The Ranch is being opened up for settlement from Vanishing year to year, and the area for grazing large flocks of low priced sheep is gradually diminishing in this way. America's great opportunity is in The Farm the placing sheep back on farm lands. Place for Sheeo ^^^^ insures a public interest in the ^ industry and a permanent supply of sheep and wool. Sheep respond read- ily to man's care and keeping and are economical on the small farm. They pay a good dividend on the investment, and will be a comfort to every farmer who takes the time to succeed with them. We are convinced that every American farm should have a flock of sheep on it, the number in the flock to be de- termined by the size and nature of the farm. From the standpoint of national economy the sheep should be regarded as a farm necessity the same as poultry and hogs. It is only then that we shall develop a whole- som.e sheep industry on our farm lands. It has been learned by carefully Relation planned experiments that sheep will to Weeds eat and thrive on about ninety per- and Waste cent of all the species of weeds and grasses growing on the average farm. They clean out the weeds by keeping them cut down to the ground. They also help to eliminate waste by con- suming the surplus of forage of all kinds, and make a good medium through which the surplus grain and other con- centrates can be marketed with profit. There is a greater profit feeding these to sheep than there is in selling them. Page Fourteen PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING In the first place, the sheep will make good use of the feeds and help to make quick returns. In the second place, the small farmer is obliged to market such feeds generally in small quantities. They are not standard- ized, and under such conditions only about seventy-five percent of their value is realized. We very seldom put the proper Value of Sheep valuation on sheep in their relation Manure ^^ ^°^^ fertility. Each sheep will void about four to five pounds of manure daily — making more than two tons daily from a flock of a thousand. Sheep manure stands high when compared with that of the horse or cow. It contains far more plant food. Voor- hees says in his book on fertilizers, that "sheep manure contains less water, and is richer in the fertilizing con- stituents than either horse or cow manure." The follow- ing table shows the relative value by giving the number of pounds of plant food in a ton of each : Cow Nitrogens 7.6 Potash 3.2 Phosphoric Acid •. . 7.2 Juice 6.2 Total 24.2 31.0 41.2 From this table it will be seen that a ton of sheep manure has a total of seventeen pounds of plant food more than a ton of that of the cow, and 10.2 pounds more than a ton of that of the horse. Every farmer knows how valuable animal manures are in the production of large crops. The actual plant food contained in them constitutes the measure of their value. And on this basis sheep manure is the richest of all. Page Fifteen Horse 10.6 Sheep 16.6 5.6 10.6 4.2 13.4 4.6 6.6 PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING In Europe sheep are considered a matter of so much importance in the maintenance of soil fertility, that the flock is hurdled in movable pens several nights on plowed ground prior to the time of planting, and the shepherd is up through the night disturbing the flock from time to time in order to secure the greatest possible amount of manure. Page Sixteen A load of Western Range Lambs in Union Stock Yards, Chicago. 'Choice" "Good" "Medium" "Common" LAMBS AS THE BUTCHER SEES THEM. Reprinted from "Market Classes and Grades of Meat," Illinois Bulletin No. 147. PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Raise Sheep for Meat THE raising of sheep for wool alone is a thing of the past in this country and in most other countries of the world. It certainly is uneconomical on the valuable farm lands of agricultural districts, where the sheep-raising industry of the future must justify itself. England faced this problem from the first and all English sheep are raised for both mutton and wool. A sheep raising industry for wool alone Wool Supply could hardly exist under modem condi- Follows Mutton tions in the United States. Experience has shown that where we raise sheep for wool alone we will not long have either meat or wool, for the industry will dwindle or die out; whereas if we raise them for the meat primarily we find them to be a cheap source of meat, and the industry becomes profitable and self-perpetuating and we have an abundance of both meat and wool. It is estimated by the Secretary of Agriculture that the number of sheep in this country could be increased one hundred and fifty percent without displacing other live- stock, and this could be done largely on farm lands. We import an average of three hundred million pounds of wool annually into the United States, or about half of our total normal consumption. It seems that we should be growing most of that here on our American farms. The impression seems to prevail in Should We this country that in Great Britain the Sell Lambs custom is to eat mutton and save the lambs, while in the United States the tendency has been to kill off lambs which might better have been kept to produce more wool and a heavier yield of meat at maturity. Page Sevetiteen PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING This impression, however, is a mistaken one. The English eat more lamb and less mutton than is generally supposed, most of their lamb being imported from Aus- tralia, New Zealand and Argentina. Great Britain still consumes a smaller proportion of lamb than the United States, but the proportion of lambs to aged stock was steadily growing up to the time of the war. Statistics show that both Australia and New Zealand, up to August, iqi4, were greatly increasing their lamb ship- ments to Great Britain at the expense of "aged" mutton, and it is our belief that in the future, lamb shipments will develop a still greater predominance. Furthermore, there are economic considerations which justify the farmer or rancher in sending lambs to market, rather than endeavoring to save all of them for mature weight and one or more shearings of wool before killing. The average sheep raiser must find A Lamb ^ market for his lambs, keeping back Market only enough ewe lambs to replenish Necessary his breeding flock. This is on account of the cost of feeding them through the winter. He would, of course, get a shearing of wool off lambs carried over, which would fully compensate him for the cost of the feed. And there would be a gain in the weight of each animal so held. But when he took them to market he would have "aged sheep" and not "lambs" and the falling off in price per pound would more than offset the gain in number of pounds. This has all been figured out by bnoula hncour- breeders again and again, and they find age Lamb it more profitable and therefore best for Consumption the perpetuity of the sheep raising in- dustry, that surplus lambs be sent to market and that the public taste for lamb be catered to rather than discouraged as being unpatriotic and wasteful. Page Eighteen PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Well bred lambs mature quickly if properly cared for, and command a higher price in this country per hundred- weight than mutton. We feel that it is safer to have a lamb-and-mutton market than to have only a mutton market. Page Nineteen PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Breeds and Breeding MANY farmers wish to go into the sheep industry to a Hmited extent, but do not know where to secure breeding stock. We would suggest that a flock of twenty-five to fifty ewes be purchased from any good reliable breeder or from the market places, and a registered ram be put with them. Lambs should not be bred under an age of about eighteen months. Only the best flocks should be patronized in securing these rams, and Secure Breed- the advice of experts should be sought. ing Stock Usually the best breeders advertise in The American Sheep Breeder, The National Wool Grower and other good livestock journals and reference can be had here for breeders. The sheep breeder will do well to subscribe for one or more good live- stock journals. It would be well to write to the Secretary of the national association of the breed you wish, who will always gladly give information. A list of such secretaries is given at the end of this booklet. Many times it will be found econom- Breeding ical and profitable to buy these ewe Ewes lambs in the open market. This is frequently done and with success. It does not pay, however, except when they are bought in car lots (about 125 animals to make a single-deck car), and shipped out of the Yards immediately. Several farm- ers can jointly take a car and have them properly selected by commission men who will, for a small commission, see that they are forwarded as soon as the order can be filled. In some cases a number of farmers have sent a repre- sentative to the Stock Yards to select sheep. When this is done, the services and suggestions of the commission men can be secured just the same. It will be found that everybody around the Stock Yards is interested and ready to co-operate in placing suitable Page Twenty PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING young lambs on farms. They feel that the success of the industry depends on this, and are glad to see an effort made to grow more sheep. . Where it is practical, it pays for the farmer to buy breed- ing stock from his neighbor, in order to save freight and to avoid accidents and loss. This is done to a considerable extent where farmers have neighbors who wish to sell small numbers of sheep, but even in such cases it must be kept in mind that the range sheep are usually healthier than natives and besides, native ewes are apt to be infested with internal parasites. From whatever source the breeding ewes come, it is better to get a registered ram of superior breeding from some breeder of blooded stock. It is necessary to buy a good ram Renew Stock every second or third year for every with Pure forty ewes in the flock. New blood Bred Ram ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^1 insure a larger percent of healthy lambs, and will also help in improving the flock. Select a good ram of the type or breed you are keeping. Do not permit breeders to put culls off on you. Any keeper will soon learn what are the characteristics of a good ram. In Circular Number 42, Louisiana State College, we have a very concise and at the same time rather complete statement regarding breeds and classification of sheep. It is so complete that we give it in part below: ^ - "With the exception of the Merinos, Ueneral ^ most, if not all, of the pure-bred sheep Classification in this country are representatives of of Breeds the numerous breeds of British origin. The British breeds are classified in various ways, such as horned and hornless, dark-faced and white-faced, mountain and lowland, long-wooled and short- wooled ; but according to the best of the British authorities, the most usual plan is to divide them into mountain breeds, long-wooled breeds, and down breeds. Page Twenty-One PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING As in most classifications, however, it is difficult to draw sharp lines, although the three classes just men- tioned are fairly distinct. There is much variation in the sheep of Great Britain, but in all of them, over there, the carcass is the chief consideration. "If we include the Merino, another Types of classification divides sheep into three thp Different i^^ain classes, from the standpoint of J their wool, viz.: long-wools, repre- Breeas sented by the Lincoln, Cotswold, Leicester, etc.; middle or medium- wools, represented by the Shropshire, Southdown, Hampshire, etc., known as down breeds; and fine- wools, to which the different varieties of the Merino belong, such as the Rambouillet, Delaine and American. However, although fairly good mutton may be had from any of the breeds of sheep, the middle wool class is that from which the choicest quality is obtained and, therefore, is known as the mutton type. It includes the various down sheep just mentioned, and the Horned Dorset, Cheviot, etc. "The long- wool breeds are also used as mutton sheep, in addition to their wool-production, but their flesh is not considered of such fine quality as an edible product. "The fine- wools, such as the Merinos, are not usually looked upon as mutton sheep, although crossing with middle-wool blood produces a better mutton animal than the pure Merino. "The down-sheep, proper, are hornless, dark-faced and dark-legged; and the majority have close fine wool, com- paratively short in length, and with fleeces of medium weight. The most important economic feature is the quality of the carcass and the mutton. They do not readily become too fat, even when fed to great weights, and the mutton is of superior quality, being firm, fine in the grain, and rich in color. Page Twenty-Two PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING ri. M/ / "Referring for a moment to the tine Wool vs. fine- wools or Merinos, as wool-producers Mutton Breeds they are famous. The mutton qualities, however, are inferior, the sheep being muscular in type, carrying but little fat, and considered of about secondary importance in this respect. The cross- bred, or grade American Merino, is not improved for wool- production, but, as already stated, when crossed with middle-wool blood, a better mutton sheep is produced, although yielding less wool. "The mutton value of the Delaine Merino has been emphasized for some time; but it does not dress out so well as the true mutton type of sheep. The cross-bred or grade Delaine seems to be valued on the range." "The Rambouillet, which is of Spanish origin, although a native of the northwestern part of France, is a member of the great Merino family. As a mutton producer, this breed ranks well, but is inferior to the regular mutton breeds. Cross-bred and grade Rambouillets are well known on the Western ranges." There is perhaps no universally best breed. Some breeds do well in some places, while others do better in other places. Some farmers have wonderful success with par- ticular breeds, and almost fail with others. The particular breed that one selects must be largely a matter of individual choice. Joe Wing found that when Merino Cross Breeding ewes were crossed with good Down breeds, the result was good, but was best only when the ewe stock was kept pure Merino. In cross-breeding it is well to remember that the ram is just half the flock — and by far the easiest half to care for. Oxfords, Shropshries, Dorsets, Southdowns and Hamp- shires cross well on the Western ewes, and make rapid grow- ing lambs. The question of cross-breeding deserves much study, and will be found more successful on the farm than on the range for the reason that conditions and environment can be more easily controlled on the farm. Page Twenty-Three PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING In the Mating The following suggestions are quoted Season from Illinois Extension Circular No. 1 7. (a) Have the ewes in a gaining condition. (b) Shear the ewes around the rear parts, and see that the dung does not collect there. (c) Dip the ewes and the ram if ticks, lice, or scab mites are present. (d) Feed the ram a pound of grain each day. Grain should be fed to ram before mating begins. (e) Use one ram to every thirty-five to fifty ewes. (f) Keep a record of the time when the ram is turned in with the ewes and when taken away. During The period of pregnancy is 146 days and Pregnancy the following will be found a useful guide: (a) Have the ewes gain 15 to 25 pounds. (b) Utilize cheap roughages. (c) Feed grain and leguminous hay during the months of pregnancy. (d) Shelter the ewes from cold rains and storms. (e) It may be advisable to divide the ewes into groups relative to age, condition, or time of lambing. Suggestions Most of the following suggestions are for Lambing taken from Extension Circular, No. Time 18, University of Illinois, by Prof. W. C. Coffey, which contains much valu- able information on handling the flock at lambing time. The shepherd should keep watch over the flock at lamb- ing time. Keep thc/Cwes that are about to drop lambs separated from other kinds of live stock — and do not forget that hogs will eat young lambs. Provide warm quarters in cold weather and give ewes plenty of room. Have a few portable lambing pens, about four feet square. Page Tzventy-Four PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING A First Aid It is suggested that the following should be Outfit kept on hand for treatment of ewes and lambs : 1 . Liquid sheep dip to be used as a disinfectant. 2. Epsom salts, castor oil, and raw linseed oil to be used as physic. 3. Tincture of iron, gentian and ginger to be used as a tonic. 4. vSoap to place in water intended for injections to relieve constipation. 5. Tincture of iodine to be used on swollen udders and on navel cords to prevent "navel ill." 6. Swan-bill nipples for feeding milk to young lambs. 7. A metal syringe provided with a large nozzle and also a small one suitable for giving injections to young lambs. 8. A glass graduate for measuring doses of medicine. Caring for As lambing time approaches, pen the ewe the Ewe at night where she can be watched till the lamb is a few days old. It must be kept in mind that the ewe frequently requires help when giving birth to lambs. If help is given, great care should be taken to disinfect the hand — and do not tear the parts of the ewe. If the ewe seems to have no appetite six or eight hours after the lamb is born, raw linseed oil and epsom salts should be given. Two ounces of oil and four ounces of salts make a good physic. A teaspoonful of gentian in half pint of warm water three times daily makes a good tonic. Caring for See that the lamb finds the teat, and if it the Lamb is strong nothing more is necessary. A weak lamb should be helped till it is strong enough to find its food. If the lamb is disowned, confine it and its mother in a close pen, and smear some of the mother's milk on the lamb. Twins should always be put with the ewe both at the same time. Page Tzventy-Five PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Marketing Mutton and Lamb _^, During the past few years there has Wnat are \^qq^ ^ remarkable change in the sheep the Market business. ' 'Aged stock' ' has become very Demands scarce. Livestock men now market practically all of their stock as lambs. This has resulted almost in the elimination of wether sheep and yearling ewes. Receipts of "aged stock" are now almost all ewes, and even these at times are very scarce. r^ J Q - "The trade calls for light, plump, well tarty bpring finished lambs, weighing about 70 to or Hothouse 80 pounds on the hoof, and mutton Lambs weighing 100 to 125 pounds. The sale of poorly finished carcasses is very slow — but the demand is always heavy for good stock. In this country few of our wethers are above three years old when they are taken to market. We are a lamb-eating people, but will eat mutton when lambs are not available. The first run of spring lambs usually comes just before Easter. These are often termed "hothouse Iambs" and are the output of growers who specialize on early lambs. They are generally dressed with the pelts on. These are lambs that are dropped in November or December and prepared under artificial conditions for market. The idea in raising hot-house lambs is to bring them on the market in early spring and get fancy prices for them. For a limited supply of these lambs there is a good demand. They average about fifty pounds on the hoof, which is considered very light as lambs go. Spring Lambs ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ genuine spring lambs on the western markets is from Tennessee. The start in limited quantities about the middle of May, and come regularly after June first. Page Tzveyity-Six PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING They are pasture lambs and usually come from the South where pastures are green very early in spring, and where lambing time is somewhat earlier than farther north. These lambs may be fed grain with profit, even though they have plenty of rich pasture. In this way they can be quickly finished for market from April fifteenth to June first while prices are high. To get the best results with them, the ewes may be fed some grain but should receive cotton-seed meal and some hulls, and with these a light sprinkling of shorts. These Tennessee lambs are followed by Kentucky lambs during July, and the Central States Natives and western range lambs from July fifteenth to about Novem- ber first. These are the grain fed spring lambs Fed Lambs that run from about November first to June first. They are mostly range- bred stock that has been moved east during the fall and handled by feeders. The time required to finish these lambs depends upon the time that they are put on special feeds and the nature of the feeds used. Different feeds are used in different parts of the country. In some sections like Colorado where hundreds of thousands are finished for market, feeding is almost a profession. The practice there hinges on the rich alfalfa crops and the pea fields in the Arkansas Valley, the grains and other concentrates being shipped in. In Idaho, Montana and other western states, lambs are frequently kept over and finished during the fall and winter months on hay. In the middle west and further east, various kinds of feed combinations are used as suggested in the chapter on feeding. Soy-bean meal, shorts, corn meal, and various other concentrates, combined with some hay and clover or alfalfa, con- stitute the bulk of such feeds. In feeding for market farmers should exercise judgment for the reason that greatest profits are always made by judicious feeding. Page Twenty-Seven PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING For several years past frozen sheep Imported Sheep and lambs have been imported from and Lambs South America, Australia and New Zealand. Although the American trade is unused to handling frozen stock, these imported sheep and lambs have met with a ready sale and given entire satisfaction. Page Twenty- Eight 'Ml LINCOLN y^ 'i*^. g- ■%, ^ HAMPSHIRE SHROPSHIRE L^ -f ^'^^- ^,. :-^%- -.^^«: DORSET ^-^ '^^ MERINO CHEVIOT rnims^ "^3^ COTSWOLD CORRIEDALE "i#>k PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING The Feeding of Sheep IT WILL be impossible to give a complete treatise on feeding in this booklet, but we feel justified in includ- ing some of the experiments and opinions of the best feeders. Sheep respond readily to good treatment. They clean up the weeds about the farm, and graze pastures and ranches, closer than other animals. They thrive with very little attention, but pay handsomely for the best care. Sheep that are raised on the large western ranges are usually fed lightly and only in winter except when they are being finished for market; in fact, it is not necessary to feed them in grazing season except to keep them tame and under control. They are primarily grazing animals and do best when they have free range. The ewes should be flushed just Feeding Ewes before breeding time in order to secure the best results. If on the farm, they can care for twin lambs, and are more apt to drop twins if well fed prior to breeding. They do not need very high feeding during winter. An abundance of forage, a half-pound of mixed grain feeds, and two or three pounds of silage or root crops daily per head will be sufficient. The most important part of the flock of sheep is the breeding ewes, and if we once learn to care for these we have solved most of the difficulties of the business. In selecting feeds a formula should consist of some alfalfa and other legume hay, such as clover, cow-peas or velvet beans. Do not feed grain two or three days At Lambing prior to, during and immediately after Time lambing time. There is danger of milk fever. Legume hay or other dry rough- age and silage or mangels can be fed with safety all through Page Twenty-Nine PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING the period of gestation and these may be supplemented with small quantities of grain a few days after lambs are dropped. Within a short time a full feeding of grain is possible without injury, if the quantity is very small at first and the increase gradual. The best paying feature of the sheep industry is the quick sale of fat lambs. Much study and attention therefore should be given to the subject of feeding lambs. They very early develop an appetite Begin Feeding for solid feeds, and will begin to nibble at Ten Days weeds and grass when only a few days old. Feeding may begin with safety at ten days of age, and should be done for the reason that a pound of flesh can be produced now much cheaper than when the lamb is older. Besides, too long delay will make it harder to put on flesh. In England, and more recently in this country, the custom has been developed of constructing creeps or small openings through which lambs can pass, but which keep back the ewes. These permit lambs to go into special inclosures where they can have extra attention. They should begin to use grain as early as they can with a degree of safety, which is about two or three weeks after birth. Other facts regarding the feeding of lambs are pretty well known, or can readily be learned from the many excellent books available, including state and Government bulletins. Healthy Lambs Healthy lambs make good use of Economize every ounce of feeds that go into them, Ppp^^ and while they are young is the time to plan and feed for marketing. Delay is costly. Every farmer knows that it is good business to use feeds where they count for most, and grown sheep cannot make as good use of feeds as lambs. Page Thirty PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Experiment has shown that to produce a hundred pounds of lamb flesh it was necessary only to add one of the following to the milk and grass diet: 7 1 pounds of wheat bran or 74 pounds of com meal or 78 pounds of oats or 81 pounds of crushed peas. Feeding for Unweaned lambs that are to go to the Breeders or breeding flock at maturity should re- for Market ^^^^^ ^^^^' ^^^^ ^^^ P^^^' ^^^^^ those that are to go to the slaughter pen should receive corn. The corn produces a fat carcass and one better suited for market demands. Gains from 'The rate of gain from the different Different Grains ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^" ^^^ following quotation : "When alfalfa is used alone it requires no to 120 days to fit lambs for market ; with light grain feeding (one-fourth pound per head per day) 100 to no days; with medium grain ration (one-half pound), qo to 100 days; and with heavy grain ration (one pound), 70 to 80 days." He states that one-fourth pound a day of corn made as much gain as one-half pound, but that the gain was not so rapid. Rations In Henry's Feeds and Feeding (page worked out by 5^8) are given a number of results from Exveriment ^^^ various experiment stations in ra- ^ J^ . tions for fattening lambs. The tables stations show how much rations should be given each day to a hundred lambs. They also show the weights of the lambs that were fed and the average daily gain resulting from the feed combinations. Page Thirty-One PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Rations for Fattening Lambs At various Stations different feeding stuffs and combinations of feeds have been used for fattening purposes. Ex- amples are here presented to aid the feeder in forming satisfactory combinations of grain and roughage and to guide in determining the quantities required. In all cases the rations are calculated for loo head. The weight of the lambs is given in each example : Michigan Experiment Station. ^ Corn and clover hay. Lbs. Av. wt. of lambs fed . . . 82 Daily gain .31 Shelled Corn 149 Clover Hay 104 Wisconsin Experiment Station. ^ Corn and Corn fodder Lbs. Av. wt. of Lambs fed. . . 76 Daily gain .27 Shelled corn 154 Corn fodder 188 Michigan Experiment Station. ^ Corn, oil meal and clover hay. Av. wt. of lambs fed ... 83 Daily gain .34 Corn 132 Oil Meal 33 Clover Hay no Michigan Experiment Station. * Corn, bran and clover hay Av. wt. of lambs fed. . . 80 Daily gain .25 Shelled corn 81 Bran 81 Clover hay 107 Michigan Experiment Station. ^ Corn, Wheat and clover hay. Av. wt of lambs fed ... 85 Daily gain .25 Shelled corn 64 Wheat 64 Clover hay izq Wisconsin Experiment Station. ^ Corn, oats and hay Av. wt. of lambs fed. . . 8q Daily gain .38 Shelled .orn 94 Oats Q4 Hay Q5 Wisconsin Experiment Station. ^ Corn, peas and corn fodder. Av. wt of lambs fed ... 76 Daily gain .32 Shelled corn 87 Peas 87 Corn fodder 183 Michigan Experiment Station Oats, hay and roots Av. wt. of lambs fed . . , 83 Daily gain Oats 164 Clover hay 140 Ruta-bagas loo 31 iBul. 113. Page Thirty-Two 2Rept. i8q6. 3Bu1. 128. ^Bul. 107 PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Minnesota Experiment Station. ^ Texas Experiment Station. ^ Wheat screenings and timothy hay Cotton-seed meal and cotton-seed Lbs. hulls Lbs. Av. wt. of lambs fed. . . 74 Av. wt. of lambs fed. . . 62 Daily gain 2Q Daily gain 28 Wheat screenings 211 Cotton-seed meal Q7 Timothy hay 72 Cotton-seed hulls qy Minnesota Experiment Station. ^ ^ , , _ . ^ . , Barley, oil meal and timothy hay Colorado Experiment Station. 3 Av. wt. of lambs fed . . . 76 ^'"^^'^ '"''' ""^ "^^^'-^^ ^'^^' Daily gain .33 Av. wt. of lambs fed. . . 8g Barley 170 Daily gain 2Q Oil meal iq Alfalfa hay 2Q0 Timothy hay 72 Corn 67 Barley, oats and corn were the cheapest concentrates in the growth of market lambs. Barley is easy to grow and sufficient attention has not yet been given to it in this country as a food for sheep. It is especially good in climates where winter wheat is likely to be winter killed. In order to calculate the exact cost Calculating of producing a hundred pounds of live Feeding Costs weight, one has only to refer to the daily papers and see the price of the materials he is selling, or to be even more practical, calcu- late the price of feeds by the prices we are getting on the market. The legal weight of grains is different in different states, but the following is accurate enough for practical purposes : Corn in ear 70 lbs. per bushel Corn shelled 56 lbs. per bushel Corn meal 48 lbs. per bushel Wheat 60 lbs. per bushel Barley 48 lbs. per bushel Rye 56 lbs. per bushel Oats 32 lbs. per bushel iBul. 113 2Rept. i8q6 ^Bul. 128 Page Thirty-Three PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING , Woll, in Productive Feeding of Farm How to Animals (Lippincott), gives a series of Fatten Sheep formulas to be used in combination for finishing sheep for market, and they are so good and so representative that we reprint them here, giving them in the order in which we find them. The amounts are to be given daily to each animal weighing about one hundred pounds at the beginning of the finishing period : 1. Two pounds clover hay, one pound wheat bran, one and a half pounds corn. 2. One and a half pounds of hay, one and a half pounds roots, one and a half pounds of oats and wheat bran, equal weights. 3. One and a half pounds clover hay, one pound roots, one pound corn, one-half pound wheat bran. 4. Three pounds alfalfa, two-thirds pounds corn. 5. One pound each cotton seed hulls and cotton seed meal. 6. One and a half pounds clover hay, one pound corn, one-quarter pound wheat bran, one-half pound gluten feed. Combination hay and grain rack which may be entered by attendant when feeding grain. (U. S. Farmers* Bui. No. 810) Page Thirty-Four PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Substitute Barley for Wheat 7. Two pounds alfalfa hay, two pounds ground corn and oats. 8. Two pounds clover hay, one and a half pounds soy beans, one-quarter pound wheat bran. These combinations can be mixed in large quantities for flocks, and then given out by totals — the number of pounds to each sheep multiplied by the number of sheep to be fed. Barley makes a good substitute for oats or wheat in any one of the combinations, and may also be used in the place of corn. Barley is easily grown in the more northerly climates and is sure to come into more general use as a feed. It can be planted in spring and the crop is to be counted on. Any farmer can take these combinations and alter them to suit his own locality and finish sheep for market with no risk whatever. It is only a matter of care if the right combination of feeds is given. • Combination hay and grain rack, with grain troughs so con- struct^ that they may be pulled to back of rack and grain placed in them without entering the pen. (U. S. Farmers' Bui. No. 810) Page Thirty-Five PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING The owner of a flock of sheep can do nothing more im- portant than to make a study of these feed combinations and adjust them to suit his own climate and crop conditions. Success is sure to follow a careful and accurate observance of these results. The Wool Pays When sheep are properly cared for it Feed Bill ^^ estimated by western sheep breeders and feeders that the wool pays for the feed and the carcass is clear profit. This estimate is based on the assumption that the flock receives the proper attention from the dropping of the lambs to time for marketing. Self Feeders Sheep breeders often inquire about Should not ^^^^ feeders for sheep. We cannot urge » rr J too Strongly that farmers should not use oeusea ^^j^ feeders. The death rate is far higher and the gains are never as satisfactory. Lamb creep with rollers for uprights. (U. S. Farmers' Bui. No. 8io) Page Thirty-Six PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Good Pastures a Basic Crop THE luxuriance of the pastures of a farm is a measure of its fertility. Pastures are frequently neglected as factors in agricultural prosperity. They should be regarded as a crop, the same as wheat or corn, and made to yield abundantly. "I cannot spare the space for sheep raising," says one farmer. "I need all my land for money crops." In the first place, land devoted to pastures, if it is made to yield abundantly, is not "spared." It con- stitutes a valuable crop which yields a profitable return on the investment, and if it is in leguminous forage, it is contributing, at the same time, to the necessary fertility for future crops. Furthermore, the animals grazing upon it, also contribute to the maintenance of soil fertility. The reader will no doubt remember John J. Ingalls apostrophe to grass, in which he says: "Should its harvest fail for a single year, famine would depopulate the world." The truth of this statement, once impressed upon us, forces us to respect the economic importance of this lowly herb. What Senator Ingalls really meant was that our live stock could not exist without grass and that we could not exist without the livestock. Poor pastures should not, and need not be tolerated, but this form of inefficiency is far too common. Losses through poor pastures are very apt to be ascribed to the sheep or other live stock which cannot thrive upon them. Unless suf^cient fertility is maintained in the soil to nourish grasses, and the grasses actually raised, sheep cannot be expected to prosper any more than any other crop. Page Thirty-Seven PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING ^ ^ p / Sheep are naturally grazing animals, Gooa Pastures Q^id unless they have adequate pastures Important they will not thrive. We have said before that they eat go per cent of all the species of weeds commonly found on the farm. Furthermore, they will clean up the hedgerows and the fence lines. But this should not be taken to imply that they can as well do without better pastures. Sheep deserve and need the best pastures we can make and will thrive in proportion to the quality of forage they get from the pasture. For sheep, grass should not be per- Value of mitted to grow too high, however. Native Grass Sheep need short sweet grasses. Wing says that the wild pasture grasses are best, and should be developed as much as possible. He also says that there are many kinds of pasture plants we can use to advantage, some of which are discussed in the following paragraphs. Rye is a sweet succulent pasture Rye Good and and is easily grown. It is not rich in Easy to Grow food value but is very wholesome ; and because of the ease with which it can be grown, is popular in all parts of the country. If the spring grain fields are put into winter rye, this will provide good feeding for the flock until time for planting the spring grain crop. Rye can be planted in any kind of waste place with good effect and will always pay for the trouble and cost. If the land is suitable, hairy vetch Vetch can be sown with the rye and the two and Rye will make a good food combination in spring. This will make a longer season for grazing and a better food, but cannot be so closely grazed in winter. A good plan will be to put part of the land into rye, and part into vetch and rye, and have a movable fence for a partition. Page Thirty-Eight PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING For late spring and early summer Alfalfa grazing, oats and alfalfa are good. and Oats Sow these crops on good soil and fertilize well if you would get good results. Sow them early and use liberal quantities of seed, about two bushels of oats and fifteen to twenty pounds of alfalfa seed to the acre. To graze these crops successfully, let the sheep run on them until eaten down close, then turn into other pastures or rotate with movable fences until a growth of oats and alfalfa gets started again. This can be repeated as often as the pasture is suitable for grazing. j'fiQ The clovers are among the best pas- Clovers ^^^^ crops, first because they are rich in food value for sheep and second, because they enrich the soil they grow on. Sheep that have these for the annual pasture are also less troubled with diseases. They nibble off the upper leaves, and get cleaner food. These plants, however, are rich in protein and would be too rich if grazed alone. When sown for pasture, orchard grass should be mixed with them. If grasses are to be had the animals will not overeat the richer foods. PI ]^ ± ^ ' Wing observes that pasturing on IJo Jyot uraze clover is never absolutely safe, but Clover Too the observance of a few simple rules Young will go far to insure safety. Do not graze young clover plants. Wait until they are almost to the blossoming stage. Do not graze hungry sheep on clover. Allow them to get almost filled up on other feeds before putting them into the cloverfield. Give them salt as soon as they are put upon pasture. Page Thirty-Nine PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING Rape belongs to the cabbage family, Rape ana ^\\ branches of which fit well into the Cabbage diet of sheep. It yields well in food as Feeds value compared with other plants, but must be eaten green. Rape is gen- erally better for autumn, and will afford good pasturage after other pastures are gone. Sheep fattened on rape will require some grain to finish them solid. Dwarf Essex is the most popular variety. Cabbage makes a good feed, and where it can be grown successfully proves to be a cheap feed. Supple- mented with a small amount of grain it will be found useful in getting breeders ready for market. Every permanent pasture should Trees in have a few good shade trees in it for Pasture shelter from the sun in hot weather. Few breeders realize how much this means to the flock. Plenty of cool clean water is also important in the pasture. Panel and braces for making a portable sheep fence. (U. S. Farmers' Bui. No. 8io) Page Forty ■■■^B ^^^^1 ^^1 i||pi|piMj||B||HB