Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-09-20
FAR NERS ATTENTION
VALUABLE ADVICE Is HEREBY
GIVEN YOU.
SHEEP BREEDING MUST NOT BE
ABANDONED.

Prof. Craig Of the University of Wis
consin Experiment Station Tells OF
the Advantages OF Sheep to Farms
and the Great Profit in them fol
Their Owners.
TO the Iditor:-Within the past yeal
there have been forces in operation
that are likely to do irreparable dam
age to the sheep industry unless they
are checked ut this time. The mutton
market and the wool market through
the pressure of events have been forced
lower than they have been at any
previous period. Another cause that
has had II depressing effect ON the
sheep market has been the severe
drouth which has furthered the mar
keting of Gull stock and unfinished
sheep. The unusual activity of the
may have had an influence through
stimulating the breeding of undesirable
sheep that are compelled to 20 to mar
ket III such times as these.
These circumstances will lead many
| Wisconsin flockmastcrS to think ser
iously of sacrificing their tloCks. 1t is
to be remembered that the present time
is the most unfavorable to dispose OF
sheep because of the extent to which
they are being brought to market from
the western stltes. So completely
adapted for sheep farming is the state
of Wisconsin that it would be most
unwise to allow temporary dcpres-
SION TO start Il reckless d Spcrsion OF
Hocks-the more so since the effect Of
the depression may be almost wholly
removed by skilful direction in flock
management
In all natural conditions the state
has exceptional facilities for this line
for farming. In soil. in climate and
In markets. 1t has all the essentials
that are the basal sources of success
full sheep husbandry. In Offering addi-
t!onal reasons for the farmers of Wis
consin to maintain their flOckS intact
1t would not be Just to overlook the
beneficial influence that sheep have on
the farms that support them. The de-
gree to which they add to the fertility
of the soil, the part they play in keep
ing it clean, and their untility in bring
ing In returns from rough pasture
lands, are arguments that are always
forcible; but there are others due to
the conditions Of the present times
that are more important.
1t Is generally accepted that there is
not n more favorable time to venture
into any occupation than when it is
undergoing Il depression. The prices
for breeding ewes sand for pure bred
rams are now lower than they will
likely be again. 1t Is fair to assume
that the cost of establishing Il mutton
flock will he less at this time than In
the future; so that the chances of
realizing profit on any investment
that would be made seem better under
present conditions.
The market during the past few
years has shown that good quality
of mutton creates it's own demand. An
inspection of the sheep that are selling
ket will bear out the assertion that,
considering the quality and condition
of the sheep, the prices are good.
With the clearing of inferior stock that
has been made, it Is n fair assumption
that the price Of properly finished
c,n x,-ilI NIllu ln M ~ n II
advanced. The likelihood of this fur
nishes an additional reason for the
! maintenance of the mutton tlockS OF
our state: for even with the present
prices for good mutton n small flock
OF sheep will yield satisfactory
revenue on Wisconsin farm.
The breeding and fattcning of NUT
ton sheep harmoniZeS with the general
farming of Wisconsin,. In the matter
of growing fine wool the ranches
further west were successful competi-
tors because of the cheap range OF
/ pasture that they could give TIL II
sheep and the little labor involved in
attending to them With mutton
sheep the conditions are different.
They cannot be cared for in such I'M
menSe tlockS ms the fine wooded sheep.
owing to better feed that they require.
The mutton sheep need more atten-
tion In feeding and in cement
j and to return the best results they can
j not be treated as Scavengers, In our
general system of farming there are
/ varieties OF feed in such abundance rs
to enable the feeder to bring his lambs
to the highest perfection and in this
way secure the highest price in the
market. For this reason the states
further west cannot diSplace Wiscon.
/ sins product IN the market
To utilize our conditions to the best
/ advantage, II Is required that various
! changes must be made In our present
methods OF breeding and feeding NUT
ton sheep. The markets have made
prominent the fact that the sheep that
will yield the greatest profit Is the one
that will produce high quality of