Though Middleborough in 1837 (which then included Lakeville) had as many as 1590 sheep (including 265 Merinos) which, in one shearing, produced about two and a half tons of wool, by 1855, the number of sheep in the combined towns was down to just 579 and it would continue to decline. At the time, it appears that the 359 sheep in Middleborough were being raised for their meat. Contrarily, Lakeville seems to have continued to focus on wool production as it had 220 sheep valued at $660 and producing 600 pounds of wool. Peirce's decision to raise sheep, therefore is somewhat of an anomaly. Later farmers like Ernest S. Pratt at Middleborough would continue to raise sheep, but never again on the scale of mid-19th century Peirce's flock.
Sources:
1855 Massachusetts census statistics
Old Colony Memorial, January 23, 1892, p. 1
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