Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-07
Keeping Sheep for Profit.

The first thing necessary IN the care of
sheep is to provide suitable shelter,
where the animals may be kept warm
and free from exposure to the force of
the winds that sweep over our prairie
regions; while, at the same time, proper
means must be taken to insure proper
ventilation in the buildings. To do this
1t is not necessary that expensive struct-
ures be erected, for structure made of
rough posts and poles thoroughly COW
cred with slough hay, and the sides pro
tected with litter to break the force of
the wind and to keep out currents of air,
are among the most perfect means ever
employed to secure the health of the
animals kept therein, just as an impervi-
Gus hedge through which the wind can
not pass is altogether better protection
to plants than tight board fence.
This stable of poles and straw is not,
however, rs a rule, economical, except as
a make shift until better can be built;
for the yearly expense of keeping it in
repair will more than counterbalance
the interest on the more permanent
structure.
Whatever the shelter, the feed should
be ample and especially so if the shelter
is not good; for the waste of animal heat
being in proportion to the exposure, and
the carbonaceons portions of the food
given being intended to supply this
waste, or, when supplied in quantities
greater than is required for the present
need, then, to be Stored up rs fat for flu
ture use-this being understood, will ex-
plain one of the principal economics in
the animal system.
That class Of men who are most sue
cessful in the keeping of sheep know
that every pound of mutton and wool
represents certain quantity of food
given. However much they may appre-
cate particular breeds, they know that
these cannot be produced, bred to given
type and kept there If the care required
to bring them TO this standard is relaxed
They know, also, that when once fixed, if
this standard is not kept up, that the
type will retrograde far more swiftly than
il was brought up. They know, also,
that the extra weight of fleece and car
cass of these improved breeds cannot be
sustained without u due amount of food
to support the growth. Hence the mis-
take of that class who, in buying these
improved specimens, expect them to sub
sist upon the same care and food as ami
mails which will not weigh one-half as
much.
The animal may be regarded simply as
machine which grinds up certain
quantity of grain and hay which, diluted
with water, certain portion goes to sup
ply waste, the surplus being stirred up
in an improved form, in the shape of
meat or wool, or both. 1t Is only ques-
ton whether, by generous feeding,
sheep will reach, at twelve months, a
weight that by an inferior system would
require eighteen to twenty-four months
to accomplish. The fockmaster who
produces = given amount Of mutton and
wool for the least feed makes the most
money; and since it takes a certain
amount of sustenance per day to support
the animal waste, it therefore stands to
reason that he who, by an intelligent sys-
TEN Of feeding, enables the animal to lay
on the most surplus must, perforce reap
the greatest profits Western Rural
AN amusing conversation is reported
as having occurred between cockney,