"Sheep farming" : a treatise on sheep, their management and diseases / by W. Sutherland.

  • Sutherland, William, active 1878.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: "Sheep farming" : a treatise on sheep, their management and diseases / by W. Sutherland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    possessed of this important quality, and by skilful manage- ment in feeding and otherwise. Ewes that have been reared as pets are almost invariably found very prolific ; and hill ewes, when removed to the more genial climate and better pasture of the lowlands, are usually found to produce a greater proportion of twin lambs than they had previously done. MODERATION IN SIZE. Some may be doubtful as to whether this should be re- garded as a valuable point. Heavy sheep, however, generally yield coarse quality of mutton and are longer in coming to the market. It is only reasonable to suppose that they consume more food than medium-sized animals. Indeed, Sir J. B. Lawes, in reporting the results of a series of valuable experiments in sheep feeding, states that as regards the consumption of food, “ Sheep of different breeds consume quantities of food in proportion to their respective weights when at an equal age, stage of feeding, &c.,—that is to say, three sheep, weighing 100 lbs. each, will consume the same quantity of food as two sheep of 150 lbs. each.” And it is unquestionable that they realise considerable less per lb. when sent to the fat market than those of moderate weight. Sheep weighing 15 or 16 lbs. per qr. when fat may be re- garded as likely to yield the best return to their owner. WOOL. For many years back breeders in this country have devoted their attention more to improving their flocks in regard to their mutton-producing properties than in respect to the production of wool, the large importations from abroad having so seriously impaired the value of the latter com- modity (reducing it in fact till, taken lb. for lb., it is of little more value than mutton) that it has been regarded as of secondary importance. Were it actually necessary to sacrifice
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