A Guide for Young Shepherds; Or Facts and Observations on the Character and Value of Merino Sheep: With Rules and Precepts for Their Management, and the Treatment of Their Diseases, as Well as of Shee - Hardcover

Samuel Bard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0260631663 ISBN 13: 9780260631664

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Practical insights for raising Merino sheep, from health care to breeding and flock management.

This guide offers practical observations on the character and value of Merino sheep, with rules and precepts for their management, as well as the treatment of common diseases. It combines hands-on care tips with a learner’s approach to improving flocks through careful selection, breeding, and season-long management. The text also discusses disease challenges like sheep pox and the controversial topic of inoculation, sharing what worked and what did not in real-world barns and pastures.

Structured for shepherds and small farmers, the book blends day-to-day husbandry with longer-term strategy. It covers how to assess health and vigor in sheep, how to manage breeding schedules, and how to balance flock size with the welfare of both ewes and rams. Readers will gain a clearer sense of how to optimize wool quality, lamb vigor, and overall farm profitability through informed decisions and steady care.

• Guidance on evaluating shape, size, and health indicators in Merino stock.
• Step-by-step notes on breeding timing, ram fertility, and managing early lambing.
• Practical care for common ailments and a historical look at disease management and inoculation.
• Strategies for keeping flocks healthy across seasons while maximizing wool and mutton yield.

Ideal for readers of agricultural manuals, livestock keepers, and anyone focusing on Merino restoration or improvement in a farm setting.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0260631663
• ISBN 13: 9780260631664
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 122