The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-03
The Profit from, Sheen,

of profit from sheep just at this time
does appear to be the height Of absurd
ity. But we desire to speak on general
principles, and with reference to the
/ good time coming when there will not
be so much gloom among sheep-breed-
era and wool growers So there is at
present. Still we believe that even
though circumstances have conspired
to greatly reduce the profits of sheep
raising. that had we. as sheep-breeders,
pursued little different course in the
past, We would even now be in quite q
satisfactory position. As we have re-
peatedly said, we have not given as
much attention to the production of
mutton as the importance of the matter
demanded. Except we have had the
mutton breeds we have given little at
tention to the question of mutton. We
have virtually considered the sheep as
valueless when the wool was of its
back except rs source of more wool.
1t is true we have not thrown the car
cass away, but have sold it for the most
we could get, and it is also true, owing
to the ignorance of the great mass OF
consumers, that mutton is mutton
whether the sheep that produced it pro-
duced fine. medium or long wool. But
we submit that market which is not
cultivated is not usually much of a
market; and we do not cultivate a
mutton market when we sell the
carcass of Merino sheep, good
deal rs we sell rags, to get it out of our
way. The Merino is capable of making
very good quality OF mutton if effort
is put forth in that direction, and there
is no reason in the world why mutton
production should not be profitable
wherever and whenever beef produc-
ton is profitable, for mutton can be
made just as cheaply as beef cali be
made, and mutton averages in price as
high as beef There have been some
very cleverly conducted experiments to
determine the relative cost and profits
of mutton and beef production, and
they have led to the conclusion that one
is just as profitable rs the other. MIR.
Lawes' experiments are the best
known. He ascertained that sheep
would save twelve per cent of dty food
consumed by them, and give an account
of it in additional weight. That is q
better account than cattle will give of
food. Cattle, according to we'll direct
ed experiments, give but eight per
cent. increase of weight upon the
amount of food consumed; or In other
words the experiments have proved
that about eight pounds of dry food
will make as much increase in the
weight of sheep as twelve pounds of dry
food will in cattle. Now if these ex-
periments can be relied upon, 1t will be
seen that sheep will pay as well rs cat
tie in respect to meat, and we then
have the wool as an extra source of
profit. 1t is true that the COW gives
milk, but she does not lay on fat while
she is doing it. The sheep lays on fat
and produces wool at the SAME time.
But we do not desire to paint the
picture of sheep husbandry in too brill
| liant colors, though we honestly believe
that tho experiments, to which we have
referred. may be relied upon, and that,
if we would give more attention to the
mutton side of the business, we should
| always be in position to reap some
profit regardless of the price OF wool.
But, to be conservative, is it not true
that the sheep will pay for its keep in
its carcass? Or, to be little more con-
sentative. will not all agree that the
price received for wool will not need to
be drawn upon very heavily to cancel
all the cost of keeping the sheep?
Then there must be some profit in the
remembered that the sheep does not
make itself a debtor to the land. 1t
will return more than it takes of, and,
rs a matter of fact, it would take very
little off. if it returned nothing. If the
cost of five-pound fleece of wool is
estimated, it will be found to be very
little, for it would require the making
of only one-fifth of an ounce a day,
and, certainly. that would require but
little food. The mineral matter taken
from the soil by such fleece is little
over an ounce and a half. If we
compare what q number of sheep that
will equal cow-say half dozen NUT
ton sheep-will cost the soil in mineral
matter, with what COW, giving four
thousand pounds of milk during the
wear, will cost it in mineral matter, we
shall see how very little the sheep costs
in that direction. The half dozen will
| take from the soil not much more than
nine and a half ounces of mineral mat
ter. The COW will take twenty-six
pounds, forty-three times more. The
cow takes also thirteen times more
nitrogen than the sheep will take. We
are, the reader will remember. only
estimating what the fleece of the sheep
and the milk of the cow require. Ii we
GO further, and estimate the relative
draft upon the soil for bone and muscle
and fleece and milk, we shall find that
the waste of mineral matter is not more
than one-third as great in the six S eep
rs it is in the COW. The sheep improves
the soil, as is well understood, and if,
in addition to that, we have greater
profit than we have from the cow. we
can begin to realize that there is a great
deal in the old Spanish adage that
'.the sheep's foot is golden" though
that originally applied to the improve
ment of the soil
We call attention to these facts, and
make these suggestions. because we
would like to get as much light on this
dark picture before us as possible. Ii
there is sunbeam anywhere We al
ways like to find it and feel it. Some
people seem rather to enjoy being in the
gloom. But we are not that kind.
Those who are looking forward TO the
restoration of the tariff. are compelled
&c, admit that at best that will be a con-
siderable distance in the future. They
certainly can expect nothing from this
present Congress, and may be they will
get nothing from the next. 1t is wise.
therefore. to look about and see what
can be done in the present condition OF