SHEEP FOR FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 431, 13 February 1909, Page 3

SHEEP FOR FARMERS.

; ;?^--f-i-KTHE': ;^B^ST:J.CRpS^ES.;}v :-V/.;.; '.^ /.' ;i. -o<^ : Here'Vare r wme;interesting:.notes'.by /& H. ;;.rf:i;J; i ;Gknn^ r >of^the\f'G}en : \;lnncj3.vV.Exseriment: :rW;^'!Ga%tt£'^,:of./Neiv;::So^^ ; SJ'. jj not tho ; Now: -Ziealand ; Sf£;J..ypoinJ£bfATO^^ •vi majite'ryfand';in'mow of ;tlie : big 'y{ : A ■;'■' purchases} t^atV]inil':.be^mad6^iit : ' thd/ : Master-> 'weoki^but^farniefs'i'will: :^;ft;;;--/probably/tread/ : & '■^ys^j : !'Fatmersjiwl}o^mbine^o i theV''mdustrieß,i growing , of; bercal v crops;.: : with; ~:.shPuld:^secure:ia:/ffock;;that '}. :;:/;;'//will ;giv<&;.them /tho ;,best"-'.neb , ' return annually •-ti/vjsperfsheep,H'/Having'but iyery , 'limited: areas, ;V[/^i^M:^al:role, :i^aa:iMrease;jmßst'bevgoVTidUpr i^i::^'giiickly/; so ; that'early/maturity is-a'lfery,:im-:S; ;y ipott^t;;featurei;JanQ;:lamb?andCteg ; ;muttqn ;ihi6flj^. ; aim6d at; this Vis quite in' pA-ii with/the/ meat export; which; >S s! fsi v^Wsaprefersithey'early_%atnringj;carcaßS; iiy^SWopHs.^ i;!?f ./Xnot' b^i-p^rlo<)kod^iin^theifnidffier3; : of f;'the •■;':;:V%^lambs,s'which^^;may'ibe^Bhprn;fpr : several--sea-Sis^'sbns; , JyKSiK/ ££i£ O^', XS~ ->S i°; 'S&ftft •'' k^K^d-routton^itfade;;^; ■??;>squires{asjweU;as]"earlyj ihaiurity':.is,/quality' of : .The : fei r^uiredi.in^ianJbsisbeing v frpm)2Blb.; w>:4olb.v l:pi; i i(npt:jnbrey ! /anything;beyond:'this is/ tpp;heayy, /vi^ah/d'-TOuWp^bably/b^^ should 'be,/suckers ;'? : ;■ and' should/be-taken at 'about',. ;i.V::::'-:ifoiir'':mpntHs;bldi ,l iii'.:orderjj>o; : give, -the> .latter, Vri.'^-amatefai'agai^^^ . .'ys -i -"K-v 'As ■tfie;BHtisn\breeas ,point ''to; /; j ; v / ; vtney' should teusedprincipally / as ■ slambs,'.*,. and:pfe; whatever' breed ■.should;;^^alwa^';be.*4';pure-bre ; d;bf-the. ?wiSbes^escription■ and.constitution/ as,/le will /j-Kyi; /theiJ,bs/likely/<>p ; Impress; bffspnngiws'^rJlauib"';and:inutten':raising-'he : -Jiayevthejniuttpn ■■points; well;-'''. deyel■vj-; p^d^sqrae.;im'pPrtant;:; ; onesWbeihg:A /Good; ; : ; abroad .V>;:;;y:chest : 'iand- ( ,brisket' ) ; ?£obdigirth/measurement! : , ii; back^iYithv:Well-;SprUng: ! ribs's with .■■■ good' i. : ;ifr) i c >i n siibroad^ o pk^:arid:,deep.fnlUtwist;;with l ' ■i}:-il ■Xthe-s.p'tiecriniale: "attritatesythat--shbtild' ; bp ;..;^.^pb'ssessedv- : byj'a]l:' ;^res^6UO^^^^^ ■:":.■':? hea'dej'r'.wideSnostrils}; gopd< scragSj [ and.. wool : stronger-typeigwierallys than" ewes : of vthe' ? : eame.;'breed:: : ;.;;;3v';"CK;;^':;;;;G:: : ':i -'.J '■'■-■'■ ..•'■ '■■'.-;.'-.'' ; :;: JitheiPbiirts oi;a • Ewe^ji-;^:-,^ : .-;U''\?.^/: v^vi-^ "i3ievewßsrshbuldi- p&sess'^-'gbod;carcass,' ■ .i:; ; ;but;'effeminafe%ch.aracte^ ;'":;'.;'; tiye -prgaiis^'^elWevelpped' hindquaftefs,:. and '•.-^Vlvlood;Yudders, : ;.obvious]•■ points' K , necessafy.-^fbr' ■;?;;:. ; :r':prbducing;,;i;;go6d;rsupply 'k of -:- ; milk v 'fdrvihe; ;'■-.>^i?-cases. , thej'ewesj shoukl/'bii b'redVin : ithe : district >'. ? '■.-"|-"-or ; :a''snnilar one;.so":aS\tt:'thrive;well under. -:■";:;.-i'aU:16(Mljoonditions;;!S -■;■ in , a'greatVineasure.-lieTreflected' in -theirjy ■•■; : in : ;preferenceyto plder. -sheep;S:l)ut-in}'a ! well-! : : A crossbred;': should teethe >;V;: ; ., generally l S:f :^;fit : is'"adyjsable.that'. ; tKe:-four \teeth!'shbuld' : ;^3:;;7nPXbefore'^re^hg7frbm;/thert;*Wh^!big'Mv?: :7;British;: rams -af & :Useid-;with v merinb ■&;}£:', ewe?i: attentipn/iinust }be: givensat flambing"tei'i v; ; K;iassMi'ianyi;.;ewMPreqn»ing':''aidi:''^nd'' : in''-a'nyi -■■:;:' ; ;^oase-:it:pays;to;be : ;veryc'watc.hful of ' the;flocks' :^;"atitnis v / bf: ; lambs : thereby;' '.; :.V: : i/£:M ::rapidjy-mcreasing' conditfofl;'bui not; too fat;i ;:' .-v?."', :■ '■ are ; likely • ; prblifioX/:Under average • :;J !^:ViCpnd^ions'a;;;rani-, shbuld;(l^maiJH^wlth' ; not : ■-,' vv. ;60: eives; Vhe.'.-sb'pnldV be i ins strong" :<:^::t : 'ppnditipiii;-l)ui ;not:,too' fat: S;if?.heVshould Vbe: ' '■:;■: S iveryifat and cbnveriient yafU ihbi :;; ; i;, ; .v: sheep, at night for a'week/or : so.'. c eweS: ; -::;;;c~;but:.nbt:'too : 'fat.V'"p?y-%ould^be": : bn;;M ;-;:.;;.T:pasture'frbm the-time oflambingV uiitil lambs' br.sold.v. The,lambs mustbo'welli i::; ; ■-.: supplied:.with;; inilk /811/the^time- ; ; |; v-immaturity vcannpt;;-rosultitiLambs be: / £ r . ; ;:';.; ,ear-niarkedj .de^tailedjandlcastrated/at l from' : .! ten^?^en !/,:f.' : ;J9 m oker;.frpa.. ; opeiatibns: s than; !when' : older.':^

.'•' -. ; 1 -tails; Wi Kjnwi-a'red-hot : irori;?iiiistead- v of icutting/them f : former /method saves: ■' J ,.-;>- : . :or- ; no;;cheok"is, received - v froni vibe-"operation! -i jSLambs;■ dojnot?appearitovsulls tafter bearing ■■iv ritails ;■ • Vv cnt.idries' aridVheala; quickly-aTid : is-lesi - likely: by flies;-'lf ■-'"--. :V f ffsinfeotaiit: .is: ; :used; ; Cstich'as: StopHibto:'taf seared -.;-: :.-partjvbut smear it on the wo6l:aajacent:th'ereto.;: ,-:.;■■ One.".of-;the/objectsVof-ißearing>is, to'; dry up i;,.: {:: i %e/TOtoa^'tha^--df:-lttr;Vetp:yitp;'-l£eep^flies : ;-:-;■■■-. away-by. f tbe^smelll.near.it.-'-'XyhOT'searing ' 1 ■ press y "■ rap j heavily.' -k A V ; taking V : ■,;-;,the:teil.:off.;"males;thtf; ! operation!more com-Plete^iTheVprincipaKadvantage.:in-searing. ;ji' '■ ■! is;'claimed-to-be , that-;it ; checks,loss l of blood :'^ : iC:.. e ;■;.**.i ve J°PP^ :v ;:/vCastratenambs' iwithvcarft ; an- earlyg;:;:: age^Aroid;-frosty';orV;very;;;hbt/father : if ■c'-";i ;P9?sime:^ ! Be,i;carefulC ; tb;-use'; ali'clean":.knife.' , before '■.; '■ ■!: jnorpngWy gleaming;• it; % ; & Jcle'an'wound' 'iri- ';;..';- r.theVsdrotura;,heals> quickly;- ;Use 'Stockholm ;'V.v; tar/orr otheridisinfectant ibii;fthe. : -cut/ -'If w a any^ift;^introdiiced;^n^thKblade' i suppura-' ?f?v "on«may v ; ,supervenerandvdelay , healing,'and

■. RatesVJantli FeS* ! ii-^V-^ : ewes;?prpducmg^7S -per. cent; r :ofo lambs, ; 'the ayerkge;. British;.ram'i'tjn•: merino,' ewes ;would give;. ! abbut;siper/cent'.:mbre,-or SOperceht.' The;Britishirain'' on a : crossbred (British/ram' ;<jn.;?meririo;;:ewe)";;_would-; ; :r be; ■ about: -''Iff -per,;.cenfc;-morei'"or;"9[)-per'^^cent.)' while sev- ;; eral : of: the pure. British breeds would go 100 '••?; ■;, that' the 'ewes' and. feed ; continuously _:tnafcno; check■: may occur.'whicn',.would more br'lessidefeat th'e. object;-ofvearlymaturity in" la'mb-raisihg. % Something' "more 'than! ,; natural 'herbage; ; is : generally; , required.";' Good;intro;duced;grasseSj such.^as,perennialand; ltalian rve,,,.prairiej: Kentucky^--blue, timothy,'--and .the^.like--should; bejproyidedi'.. spring, and; summer'- topping^-and "rape and, ; : red ; . clover; for: , the "winter- , arid carl j : spring,: .arejhard t0..-'beat/,''Oare^&nst-b'ej-taKeiii'-how-.' 'ever, ■in:'putting";sheep .or ; cattle' with empty, et6machsvon;.the;;three-latter-fodder;'plants' for the.firstitime,' or hoyen ; may result.:;.Nei'thetvshould.' theySbe : put'.l on : on. windy l and .customed the changed byi putting'them on .with'iairly;fuU: stomachs:for: a few.hours;a ' day , ; they will-.then be;fairly , ;safe."! Lucerne';. cldver, ; -and; ; rape are ' all;, good preparations for;-wheati'v;"and .the j drop'pmgs the ; sheep provide "manures -and.- greatly ■ help i.to,keep-up;;the".fertility of ;the;land.; Rape. is Vai capital crop for topping stock and im;of ,the meat;;, , ; -,? '.'• ::-'f ■ h/i ah ii ttie ;Cr dp si v v }, / >>:;;v:- -.■■'.; ■k ''It^hW^been'f6u'nd r thatfroin"6o.to>loolb; of ."superphosphate will about -'double V: the' :yield;-"of; green fodder'of rape, and "much of tho manure can be.returncd,through ploughing in; the_ later growth-for-the'benefit of wheat r besides adding organic matter, to the 50i1..; Land that has been heavily stocked, no' matter how rich • at first, must: become gradually .depleted of phosphates T on : account of stock,; and especially young stock,-ap-propriating so much in the composition of ..their: carcasses, which is'not;returned again • to": the-''land in their manure.'". '.The' pLos- ■ phatos,, then, must be returned to the pas-tufes-by top dressing occasionally with phos-pbatic:-manures if their- fertility is to be kept lip. The clovers which may bo sown with all pastures will probably keep the land well supplied with nitrogen. "Burning pastures, as a rule, is to be discouraced, as this gradually dcDletcs the soil

o( .-'•■organic\matteri and makes tlie grasses spur;. tlio.■'" sweeter a'nd : shallower-rooted grasses will also have, their roots destroyed.: and the'grass seedsthat would have renewed th?m lvifl be lost;' it. .will also ..be found, in wheats paddocks that continuous; burning of; stubble will' gradually • lesson- the.initrbgen- , ; ous-; contents.. ; Steckirig- heavily.-for rank,; sour grasses' is , preferable to burning off.; :■■.• :-/''Change' of food is to: ewes and-;lambs, and keeps them in health.'The point ■' is.', to : i keep; ..them' ■ '..improving from,:itheir ; birth ; until they'are. weaned, for ithen-both : .the : .;weight. and quality 'will ■: be there H at.: an early age. v For stock; grazing; on grtwths,- like , rape, access to a. convenientf paddpck,with dryXgrassesis advisable. /The drier : foods-.help'to;make a better-balanced' great help.to.'prevept hbven'.arid.-scours;r;::-' : ""{.. ■.'•'■ ..■'.'•'.' ■■." ; 1 :- ; ;;'r-■•:;.;.■:' ;:-'v;; : . i :: - "The I Lincoln'.has'proved an excellent sheep, -for-crossing ;with -tne merino. ' .The wool.on theLcros'sbrei ia excellent j , its! weight,', length; of ■ staple, 'and lustre' giyirigi.it.' great .value.; It ;isiunlikelyrthat , any. crossbred.' will ■ surpass} it.v^Tlie,'mutton,.'.somewhat coarse an'dj tallowy -in":the: Lincoln, is'improved; in \<h'e' ■'cross: with : the 'meririp.; ;Tho-; shape'of ■ thecarcass', ;wheri slaughtered is not' all that, ban' be; ■ desired;;, generally .weighty.; .'lhey, ■are', not exempt from flukeorfooWbt.;,:.;.:; ; , ■ "The, purebred English .Leicester: .is one. : ;<if; the -pldesK-breeds/ "and has been -used;, with great; effect /in" Nthe .imprbvement of several otherVbreeds , .';.;;The.cross with th^i'meriridMs; ■much'.fancied. j.They/'require/.abundance/of' succulent;.Jfe«i:.y,Rpugh .pasture would-'not suit;them.! ;'Xhey^possess a shapely.,carcass,; with v'muttqh% :of v ;'very: good'. x colpur,,with r, a' .fleece, of-'fair,weight and .'fine lustrous wool.; ,Theyjare;nbt:.exempt.;from fluke-or foot-rot.; Their, small ;ihead_s;;areV.an. adyaiita'gb when' ;'cro'ssing;:with;nierino,ewe I s, and there are few; deaths.; in >\ consequence' during' parturition , ;'V : '■'■■■/,"The.''pujje~ Border Leicester is a bigger and. heavier.'i.sheep • : as^a-• rule ■: than ■ the . English; ;.Leicester2-iriore.legg)', ,; with. a' lighter .middle; that the proportion of '. :offal";.tp;,dre'sscd:..carcass .will be. light. -They■ ;havei: gpod : ;carriage,'are active and-hardy, ■beiri^.-..able to: thrive much better than..tup. English Leicesters; on .rough, or. scant "pasr; tures.; Their.heads: , are'.long and .narrow;;' nose, .aquiline;;,; The;, sharp;- protuberances 'Kofi the {eye , , caps are., apt. to; do , damage tb the 'uterus^^k'mb'ing , ;;- , of g'ood;.ierigth.;and:"quality; though;,ratherlight.':.. Lambs', in the cross ; mature have good backs, and are generally of very db•'sifable,;;shape; i; -They are likely -to '.take-.v.a , prominent;-place'in/lamb-breedingi. _.-'■' ;..;.'; i ■Pra!s3':'fbr ; ;Romneyr : -'T- ; ;/,: : ; -;; ;■■•;; -■ V^ .'; "The : ;; pure .; Romney •■•'■ .;is - ' a:; ' heavy.. t.Bheep,' with v.wool of'.' demi« lustre, which;.'when crossed, .with-a; fairly, fine yplky.' : merino, produces a wool.of much, value;'also, makes heavy wether;at lan early;agefand''produces good marketable: lambs .'in the cross with the merino'; but.they are, rather' lacking'in the .shape': desired ,by ;the-Jtrade.- ;Np;country.;except the' desert should y ; be .without.the .Romney ;Marsh;"fbf; it;thrives"'.where';others cannot ) dp', well;': viz;',' 'in. the'/loW) , ; swampyy/coastal 'regions,: as wells as.;;in .'pdot-'.hilly' country.:where?fluke'•'and: 'The constitution: that"m'abjes';;this breed; : tovresist; ; the'se. terrible , sepurges ;: will;;make breed' desirable., wherever :;:these :: .diseases are ■ found. 1 XiikeJ other/sheep, -howeverj '.they .suffer from , worrhs; : '- : ' :irj ,f : \.\ '-''■■'■''■.■'':. The; Black r.FacMv;,'' : --. tt : : ,;i' :v;o^;\;.-;' ',;';: V: ''The;'. Shropshire'is-a-' mutl;on ; ; sheep C-weil ■ knorctt/vto; fat rlamb-raisers.-.; /As : :"a. shapely j sheep .'with - and' early maturing. flualities;'h"e P ;is; ,'ipA"iTift-3reoKbned: ": with^'iThe; wool of the 7 pure-bred , is' much improved by crossing '.withuthaimerino;:; ; The ' rams/nf; ;allowed; fat;"are very..' lazy, and , .'slbw.r_'a'i:mating-time;-:''andXa:'. ; good-Tdeal'Vofj ,'d^bblty' : 'Js. v e3^nehped; / Tyith. : .pecially.•i'.nHjrraoes' .when' crossed'with' , , them— as; "their;.heads ;areVlarge.:;,The ;Shrop,s:li.ire : ■' :^;,''.The;;Sbuthdpw.nV:is T :a'ttrue :; muttpn' sheep; 'nbt' : so/'heayy'ai.-thevShrbpshife; or;; Suffolk,' but; a;..better.shape : ; in .the hind -fparts than' it.; is : ! : unsurpassed-for- •ihs; : 'quality' ;and;'fla-vpur;;;of;its;;muttp , h;;the-.crbsß:;with the ■merino.:.is ;compact';.and shapoly,-. though: ::small,'.andlmuchrsought;after by butchers'.' The wool, of'the pure-bred issomewhat harsh; short, , and; fleece is light/ but becomes softer aud., better: when .crossed with, the. merino., : The"breed-;is 'hardy'; and ■. sprightly,' but not. exempt from;foot-rot,'. ; The head -vis ''-small,! andilhS progeny' , ;of the cross .with;'.the'.'in'er-; inb'gives:li^tle ; trouble, during.parturition, i : ■■': y/here tha;Suffplk Excelsi,- , • .; ; l ;; f. : \ ,■;' . ; , j (fLast; but .iperh'aps. .;by': no means '.least,' 'is .the Suffolk .sheep ;for; grossing.. 'The.; lambs .from;:this /cross are. among the heaviest =o£ all.-the '.half-breeds.'..v.The Suffolk is not a' .handsome : sheep,; neither, does;, the :quality •of ;the;muttbn come near the.Southdown,.;but it'vdo'es , ' weigh.- -The wethers' from: this- cross ;also 'attain ,a' great.-;weighf: and;, size. ; The ■ fleece- of; the is; of: fair quality, only, ;but iii the .'cross , with.;.a .fairly fine mbrinb the /improvement;', is ..wonderful,, arid .'experts pronounce it i'.tb. be ■ one of \the best. of. the 'Down's-;half-bred-';;wools yet produced. , -The Suffolk (pure)" 'is: a; big," long sheep, with: largo;black,bare head and legs..; The:mutton ■is, fair, .fat , : and lean being -well mixed. The; ;ewes'are.prolific and.gbo.d milkers,..therefore i'-first-rate-mothers."'.?-'-:'.'-.-. J. '. '■ / ..; :: ■.}■ .','-' V. ':