Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-30
Sheep for Mutton.


Wool is more important in this coun-
try than mutton, and with the claim
that the wool interests are not fostered
by the Government, the breeders of
sheep, instead of using their animals
for all the purposes to which thew were
adapted, confine themselves to q single
production only, and complain that
sheep arc not profitable except under
circumstances that permit only of
unlimited range over free pastures. But
wool, while seemingly more important
than mutton, is really not as valuable IL
we take into consideration the facts per-
tanning to the breeding of sheep for
wool and sheep for mutton.
Our country is so large, and some
sections so distant from market, that
breeders find it easier to clip and trans
port wool than mutton, and they there
fore direct their attention to those
breeds that excel in wool production,
the consequence being that no people in
the world have such inferior mutton as
we have. 1t is impossible to find
dozen lirst-class sheep in n hundred that
arrive in market that may be classed as
excellent. Such sheep have been neg
lected in order TO produce wool. 1t is
easy TO estimate the difference in cost
between the production of wool and
mutton, for, allowing that wool is worth
fifty cents n pound, the value of fleece
Is not a large sum; but if breeders will
enieavor to breed sheep that pos -ess de-
sirable carcasses, with sometime else
besides ribs and legs, not only would
the increased weight be a source of
greater profit, but we venture to say
that the extra quail ty of mutton that Is
produced expressly for market would OF
itself add an additional item to the re-
celpts, thereby increasing the profits.
On some railroads sheep are transported
TO market at SO much each, and the
large sheep are therefore the cheapest,
as they sell by the pound when they ar
rive at their destination, and, although
wool is easily baleG and shipped, there
is still considerable labor in shearino
and preparing the wool for shipment.
There is a proportion of profit also
from the best mutton breeds in the
shape of wool, even though it may be
Inferior, but it is enough to pay the ex-
| pensc. The profit from sheep should
be made as large as possible, and the
| addition OF afew more pounds of wool
TO the clip will not compensate for lack
| of size and quality in the carcass. In
England they find the profit in mutton
so great as TO make sheep a necessary
adjunct to the farm, which would not be
the case if they bred for wool With
the increase of population of this coun-
try comes a greater demand for good
mutton, for we have but little of it, and
| that demand is sure to increase. As il
increases. the field for breeding sheer
| is also widened, aud if we are TO com
| pete with Australia and demanda tariff
to protect us we will at least be safe
and secure against foreign competition
in the mutton supply. OF course we
/ find mutton in our markets, but such
| neat could not be easily sold in En-
| gland. The usual focks that come to
our markets are very inferior. The
people are anxious for mutton-gooe
mutton-and it will be profitable to the
one who sends t to market-Farn.
Field and FireStde.