The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-09-07
FARMER AND PLANTER.
KEEPING SHEEP.
Their Adaptability to the Needs of the
Small Farmer.

Small Farmer.
The number, breed and quality OF
sheep have much to do with the result
in the way of profit. The Farmers
Guide says: Sheep are especially
adapted to the small farmer and es-
pecially SO when he is making an effort
to save everything on the farm and
turn into a marketable product. They
are small and consequently do not re-
quire as much room as cattle or horses
and IN feeding do not need as much
grain as hogs. Sheep will aid to keep
the farm clean during the growing
season and will in doing this consume
much that would otherwise go to
waste. While some grain will be
needed if they are comfortably shell
tered they can be kept thrifty with
roughness. Of course, the small
farmer can only afford to keep
good sheep and then give them
good care. On the small farm necessi-
ty compels the making the most of
everything, and this can not be done
with sheep unless good grade is kept,
and they are given good treatment so
that the best growth of wool and NUT
ton may be secured. If this is done,
even with low prices for wool fair
profit may be realized.
And there is no class of stock that
will pay a better profit for little at
tention given them than sheep. They
need shelter, but no better than is nee
essary with any other stock. 1t is
necessary to have them warm and dry
in order to keep thrifty and healthy.
A lot or small pasture should be ar
ranged where they can be turned out
for exercise every day that the weather
will permit Sheep do not bear close
confinement well and will keep health
Ter and thriftier if they can be allowed
to run out. The feeding should be lib
eral SO that the sheep will be thrifty.
1t is very essential in securing a good
growth of wool to keep the sheep
thrifty, and while oats, hay and corn
fodder may be made the principal ra-
ton, some grain should nearly always
be fed in addition. When the weather
is very cold and stormy sheep like a
variety of feed and want clean, dry
quarters, plenty of water and salt every
day, and with these will grow wool
every day during the winter to pay for
their feed. With good thrifty ewes
they will readily pay for their keep,
while the increase may be counted as
profit and this is rather more than can
be said of any other class of stock.
No more sheep should be kept than
can be sheltered well, and sufficient
number should be kept to insure them
good treatment. just how many is
best to keep, each farmer must, in a
great measure, determine for himself.
Under present conditions there is no
money in keeping sheep unless they
can be given good treatment, be well
sheltered and .fsasso as to keep in a
good thrifty condftion.
Because there are only few sheep
is no reason why they should be turned
out to look for themselves any more
than because a large number requires
considerable work. The farmer that
makes the most money out of his stock
must be willing to look after them,
whether the number be few or many,
and the work must be done in good
season. The small farmer can, of
course, only keep a small number. but
he can realize larger profit in proper
ton to the number than large flock,
because they can be given better care,
and the better the treatment the more
profit.
A small flock of sheep can be kept on
the majority of farms with profit, but
it is only in exceptional cases that
anything like a large flock should
be kept. To be profitable in large
numbers, sheep require certain
conditions that it is not possible to
secure on the average farm, while a
small flock will use to an advantage
much that would otherwise go to
waste. But whenever the number ex-
ceeds what can be fed well and shell
tered well there are too many, and the
sooner part of them are sold the bet
ter. Every advantage must be taken
with all farm products to reduce the
cost. With no good promise of any con-
sidera BILE increase in prices to increase
the profits, it will be necessary to de-
crease the cost. With the sheep, wheth-
er kept for wool or for mutton. this is
as important as with any other class of
products, and in no way can this be
done to better advantage than to keep
only such number as can be given the
best observation-disclosures Farm and
Ranch.
TECHNICAL TERMS
Used by Breeders and Keepers of Live
Stock.