The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-06-19
MUrToN AND MERfNos.
- Two Factors which Render SAoep,
Raising Profitable.


- Two Factors which Render Sheer.
Raising Profitable.
Sheep husbandry would not be profit.
sble If we saved the fleece only. Nut.
In and wool are the combined object
e seek. Blu: as we once before stated
she larger the surface the larger the
quantity of wool; and thus far certain.
h the argument is on the side of size.
What argument can be urged agains,
ise That it requires more food to keer
slsrge than small sheep? Without
saying and proving more than this, il
il no argument at all Does it cost
more to keep q large sheep than the
profits which its returns compensate
Tor, is the question. As to the differ
ence between the amount of food con.
sumed by two sheep of different sizes
the opinion must be largely speculative.
Indeed. we can not see how q definite
rule could be fixed. for all sheep Of
one size do not make the same econom-
icai use of food. One may assimilate
perfectly. and anothcrmay not. 1t is true
that the digestion and powers of as
sanitation of the sheep are very strong.
and may be said to be almost uni
versally nearly perfect Still there is
difference, and may be more differ
ence than we are able to see. But we
do not believe that a large Merino eats
more than it pays for; in fact, we do
not believe that the difference is
worth considering. At the Michigan
Sheep Breeders Association last year
we noticed it at the t.me-it was
stated that a French fiockmaster had
demonstrated that heavy sheep shear
ing seventeen pounds of wool ate twice
IS much as q light sheep shearing six
teen pounds of wool. As between two
individual sheep this might be true.
but. as we understand the statement, it
vas that the Frenchman found this to
be true throughout flock; and if that
is the statement, though it may prove
nothing to say we do net believe it,
still we say it. The principle in regard
70 large cattle is equally applicable to
sheep, VIZ. that it does not make any
difference how large an animal is, if it
is symmetrically developed. compact in
form. A speaker at the convention re-
ferred to recognized this principle,
though he did not comprehend it. He
advocated sheep of medium size and
compact form, evidently believing that
Ne could not secure compactness If we
went beyond the size stated. But we
" know that this is not true, for we
- large compact animals every day.
An angular sheep is not more desirable
han an angular steer. Such an ami
nal win eat, and eat, but will take on
IS very slowly, if it does at all. The
system viii utilize that part of the food
oonsumed which makes bone and mus
cle, or enough Of it to keep the bones
and muscles in full strength. and win
Excite the fat-prodncing elements It is
waste of resources to feed such an
animal reproducing foods. II they
ne useful for other purposes than
neat production. they should be fed
the non-fat-forming foods as long Is
they can be made to serve the purposes
Tor which they are kept, and then be
got rid OF in the easiest way. II there
i no other purpose in keeping
1hem than meat production, everyone
nust Judge Tor himself what he will do
With them. As to the sheep, the bone
and muscle of the angular animal viii
soDcure the nourishment, to the detriA
lent OF the fleece to some extent But
i We had sheep that was symmetri-
oolly developed it would not be objec.
tionabIe II it was rs large as an ele-
plant. In this country, where we have
- much feed that we desire to convert
ITO greater than its original value.
La g.
nal that will consume all that it will
6iye an account Of
Il is fortunate that but few thought
~ breeders viii agree with the gentle
an % whose remarks we have refer
III Unless there il some special rea-
- Of . selfish character for q different
1vocacv, al breeders will advocate
4ge sheep. As one gentleman said at
nnsing, the champion shearer of the
zorld was . large sheep. When =
IN has . family Of high pedigreed
1Einos that are small. he will advo- |
- small sheep. of course; and he is |
efty nearly the only man who does. |
- was shown by the results Of the |
unpt ct this convention to deter |
- tho idea Of the members of the |
ram. Those who believed that |
hundred and thirty pounds,
endent Of fleece, was the prop
rfno. ware asked to stand up, but /
- responded. The same request
reference to hundred and forty
nds met with no response. Alum
~ and fifty pounds drew four to /
Int and six thought that Z hum