The Organized Farmer

NEW CONTEST STARTED IN LAMB PRODUCTION

The agricultural extension service of the University of Minnesota announced this week a new lamb production contest along the same lines as its pork production and carload baby beef contests. The object is to locate the most efficient sheep raisers and to demonstrate the best methods of breeding, feeding and managing flocks of sheep.

W. E. Morris, extension livestock specialist, will be in personal charge of the project. Co-operating with him as members of the project committee will be J. S. Jones, secretary of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation; F. Wilson Pond of Minneapolis; president of the Minnesota Sheep Breeders' association, and P. A. Anderson of the animal husbandry staff at University Farm.

Any Minnesota sheep raiser having 25 or more ewes lambing between March 1 and May 31 may enter the new contest. The ewes may be graded or purebreds of any breed and must be at least two years old when the lambs are born. The lambs must be sired by registered rams or by rams that are definitely known to be purebreds. Enrollments can be made with county agents, club leaders, or the extension division.

The sheep grower who produces the largest average number of pounds of lamb to the ewe at the end of 135 days will win the contest. Classes are provided for flocks of 25 to 50 ewes, 51 to 100 and 101 or more. The champion flock will be selected from the winners of the three classes. Liberal cash prizes will be given to at least the top three in each class.

Feed and wool records must be furnished county agents by each contestant. These must include rations fed the ewes from breeding to lambing and from lambing to weaning; pasture used; when lambs were started on feed, and the kind and amount of feed used; the total weight of the fleeces and the price received.

The committee in charge in making the championship award will take into consideration efficiency and management, records kept, gains made, and the degree of success of the enterprise.