Author Topic: Old Book - (Read 2534 times)

Penninehillbilly · « **on:** June 01, 2015, 03:05:53 pm »

came across an old book, (1897) wondered what people thought this table by todays standards? (weights etc)
also a few breeds I've never heard of - extinct?

Bionic · « **Reply #1 on:** June 01, 2015, 03:55:11 pm »

Thats interesting. Where did you find the book?

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2015, 12:03:27 am »

Most interesting to me is the 'years old when killed' - gosh, that would make life so much easier! The bulk of the animals about would be wethers! I wonder what a 1897 shepherd would think of us getting lambs away at 14 weeks old and weighing 10lbs / quarter deadweight

Penninehillbilly · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2015, 12:44:09 am »

Quote from: Bionic on June 01, 2015, 03:55:11 pm

Thats interesting. Where did you find the book?

It's the 'Agricultural Notebook', I had a copy many years ago, a later version I think, so I did a search and found copy available to download. Not as useful as the book I had, (sadly I gave that away when I was going through a really bad patch) but interesting. Covers lots of things.

'average weight of wethers per quarter' would that be weight gain or joints?
yet weight of lambs under 12 month is more than x4?

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2015, 08:59:58 am »

I suspect some of the very localised breeds became incorporated into breeds with higher numbers over time. I was brought up by my grandmother, born in 1887, and we never had roast lamb, only mutton casserole.