Postcard from the Past: Early Lambs

by Dick Perue

In many eastern sections, the raising of early or hothouse lambs is a very profitable venture.

There is always a fancy trade ready to pay exceptionally high prices for a superior article, especially if the article is somewhat out of season. 

Ewes are bred to lamb during the winter months, and lambs are in fine shape for market before Easter. While not large, the animals are extremely well finished and find ready sale at prices much above regular market quotations.

It would seem there are places in Wyoming where – in a limited way at least – early lambs might profitably be raised. 

A picture was taken at the University Stock Farm showing a lamb at five weeks old. In this time, the lamb made the unusually heavy gain of 32 pounds, weighing 43 pounds when this picture was taken. 

A little figuring will convince anyone of the profitableness of raising lambs of this type where there is a market for them. 

This lamb was out of a purebred Dorset ewe sired by a Southdown ram. Dorsets are, as a rule, heavy milkers and Southdowns are noted for their early maturity, hence the combination is a very good one for mutton production.

Requirements for the success of a venture in early lambs include heavy milking ewes that will breed exceptionally early, both ewes and rams of early maturing mutton type, plenty of good feed and a trade willing to pay a fancy price for a fancy product. 

With these conditions satisfied, the venture ought to lie profitable. – A.D.F.

This was an article in the April 1914 issue of the Wyoming Farm Bulletin, published monthly by the Ag College and the Experimental Station of the University of Wyoming in Laramie.