The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-08-12
FARMER AND PLANTER.
MUTTON SHEEP.

"iRh Price ls Stimulating Interest
tho English Breeds.
Inc nigh price ofsheep during recep
years has awakened interest in the FIR
eiish breeds to . degree never befor
witnessed in this country. Our peopl
are gradually becoming acouainte,
" the tenderness and flavor of well
lea mutton, and we may look for n,
Ie'rograde movement, but rather ,
rapidly-increasing demand in the future
heretofore with our fiock.master
wool production was the primary ani
mutton secondary consideration
Now many are beginning to see tina,
Tor the older sections of the coun
try, and especially in the vicin;
" OF our large cities, the pro
AUCTION OF choice mutton and
,amos opens mp an industry the posi-.
oii.ies OF which are as yet little real.
ized. In taking up the mutton breeds
., sheep, one of the first requisites is to
u,siodge from our minds as soon rs DOS.
sioie many OF the preconceived notions
AZ regard to successful management,
Tor In this country our knowledge of
sheep husbandry comes almost entirely
through handling descendants of Span
ish Hooks, and such sheep are very diff
Ierent In quality and requirements
from the English breeds
The first and greatest difference IA
seen in the marked ability of the Span
'sh sheep to be crowded into large
hocks' in which particular they have no
equli. In most cases our sheep de-
scenaea from the Spanish have been
'na,ntained upon very limited variety
Oh Hood during the winter months The
mutton breeds will bear no such crowd
ing into large fiocks, and will not
thrive upon a diet restricted as To
Variety. These differences are easily
comprehended when we reflect upon
the great differences of management in
the past history of the breeds. With
tne mutton breeds those conditions
which have brought them into their
present form and favor in England must
surround them here if we hope to hold
them to high standard. The basis of
sheep husbandry is the turnip. In
Canada, where these breeds have sue
ceeded admirably, the climate and
crops are quite different from those of |
The Mississippi valley. Intimately con-
nected with the British isles bv de- |
scent and agricultural methods the |
canadian farmer has always been par.
'iat TO the root crop, and to this we |
nay ascribe in large measure his suc-
'ess IN maintaining the high standing
IL English breeds on Canadian soil. 1t
nay be possible that in bringing these
heep to the United States we can cut
oosc from all traditions relating to
heir management, but such seems un-
easonable, and thoughtful persons
Will scarcely dare make the venture.
hey have n large framework. which
covered with deep, juicy, tender
esh; to produce such carc:tss will
all for high art in feeding and man.
cement.
Can our American flock-owners hold
'ng'ish breedsu up to the English stand
I'd? The main difficulty seems to lie
the lack OF succulent feed during our I
ing winters We have never taken c
indy to root culture; the American Q
lrmer utters groan at the mention ]
the root crop. To him there are Just t
'rce crops: corn, oats and hay, with t
he oats for horses only, and unfortu- a
ate is the animal that call for side G
She's Corn and hay alone will never 7
'fiice for winter feeding of the sheep
question. There must be something r
lcculcnt Much as we pride orr d
Ives on our agriculture, we have Il
ssons to learn from our foreign u
'ighbors to ignore which will be to a
urt failure. We are led to these re- L
'ctions by the case of the farmer whoi r.
Gently embarked in this line, and u
St winter was complaining that his m
st crop OF winter lambs. nearly one o
inbred in number, were not THRIVING. :
vcstigation discovered that they were al
stive, and no wonder; they and their al
ms were kept upon hay, corn fodder IL
q dry grain. The owner had started ca
70 this new industry without n tn
ought of providing succulent feed til
winter, and severe losses were the Ia
'uit Ii winter lambs are to be raised. ne
Dts are prime requisite; they should vi
be neglected, even though lam bling va
he be delayed until spring. It is So
lite probable that corn silage will pr
re the place of roots where sheep an
vc sufficient age to masticate it. but OF
can hardly expect it to be suitable Or
lambs in winter. From numerous be
orts it certainly has proved wen for I'M
er animals. ca
mother point of Importance is that OF
alier fiocks of the mutton breeds TIL
st be carried than of Merinos. While ye
Irge number may be gathered to- sic
her for n single winters feeding, en-
farmers can maintain large fiocks raj
hese breeds for any length. of time en-,
b profit Our idea of the size of flocks is {
made mp from Spanish antecedcnts; mir
the beginner shut his eyes to this
dition and accept English expert
and English practices instead. :
ause large profits are possible with pet