The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-22
SHEEP,


we'll kept flock of mutton bred sheep he
is catering to the demands of gradual
ly growing tendency on the part of the
American people to the consumption of
good mutton. The economy of the
farm is hardly complete without such
flock.
Sheep ticks often procure Judgment
in barns and sheds and live for several
weeks. This fact makes the matter Of
complete determination very difficult;
however, if the wool is of good length.
the ticks seldom get off the sheep; but
the sheep tick is very hardy little
animal.
Careful selection, with improved
methods of feeding, is alone responsible
for the wonderful development of good
qualities as shown in the Southdown
sheep of today. 1t has been brought up
to it's present state of perfection and
symmetry Of form without the interven-
ton of cross with any other breed.
When stock breeding was declared
Improbable the common stock of sheep
began to be improved by selection and
crossing, and soon the improved mutton
breeds were brought out, and the science
Of breeding which produced such mar
velous improvement has developed the
many valuable breeds of English mutton
sheep.
Our most learned, skillful and success
full breeders are the most eager to learn
and apply all the available experience of
others to their own methods. The
science is yet in its infancy. and is as
applicable to sheep as horses. cattle or
hogs. Breeders do not presume to know
it all, as they formerly did, thinking
there was no room for progress or i'm
provement.
No question but that the prospects for
mutton sheep are going to improve.
The unparalleled sacrifice of breeding
stock on the large markets is likely to
react, owing to the decrease in the num-
Der Of sheep being bred and the smaller
number which will GO on the markets
in the future.
Mutton sheep and liberal feeding are
the two main factors to be employed to
the most profit in the sheep farming of
the present. The sheep must be of
mutton descent, so that they will give
the greatest gain in flesh for the food
consumed The ram, at least, must be
of the right kind and pure bred.
Early maturing sheep, which will
make rapid progress and be ready for
market any time within year, are most
likely to give the best returns. That
lamb can not but be profit producer
which will weigh, when literally fed, $50
pounds when year old. but he must
have strong framed. round ribbed, full
quartered sire of 200 pounds weight.
Ewes should get bran or oats daily,
that the lambs may come we'll nourished.
The lambs should have bran, even while
getting milk from their dams. After
weaving, give them oats, clover or rape.
and other grains. Roots and silage will
cheaper the cost, and are excellent; but
there must be liberal feeding from the
birth to the block. Most sheep raisers
do not realize this as they should.
The demands OF the market are for
early matured sheep, as we'll as for the
younger steers and hogs. Fortunately
this is in line with the growers best in
terests, for the earlier the sheep are ma
tured the fewer chances they will have
to eat their heads off. A eve which
raises two lambs and good wool clip
should more than pay her way.
A good dip for sheep may be made by
sleeping four pounds of tobacco stems
in 20 gallons of water. at boiling heat;
to this add, by stirring. one pound of
flour of sulphur. Dip with the liquid at
about 40 degrees, meanwhile stirring
the mixture. Dip old sheep, just after
shearing. and again in the fall.
One advantage in sheep growing is
that they bring in money from April to
August. often season during which
many farmers have nothing to turn into
money for current expenses.