The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-01-29
SHEEP INDUSTRY.

SHEEP INDUSTRY.
In no form Of stock husbaudry has
a wider divergence occurred from for
mer practical financial foundations
than in sheep. The whole system in
the sheep industry needs to be recon-
structed to suit the widening market
for the form of products the sheep
affords, says J. f. Abbott. In this
reconstruction while wool is forced
out of the estimate in profits, it can
not be wholly eliminated from the
discussion of the sheep industry, be-
cause from the natural canses rs
founded upon fundamental law in the
animal economy, good fleece forms
the basis of healthy, vigorous con-
stitution, and without that no animal
is fitted to serve in its highest copa-
city for profit and usefulness.
In the new order OF things, the
question presents itself to the farmer
whether sheep can be made profitable
on the present basis of the industry.
In considering this question it is very
evident that sheep-breeding on the old
plan of raising the long-legged, small
bodied, thinly-clothed sheep, kept
when wool was the only object the
farmer could see in raising sheep, will
not pay at the present time.
The time has come when a sheep is
no longer a sheep in the sense that
inferior stock can be made to pay
profit on its keeping. This is the
more emphatically so when lambs and
mutton are the principal or only pro-
ducts of money value accruing from
sheep.
In selecting stocks there are several
requisites to be considered peculiar to
locality. Our stock must be adapted
TO the climate, to the products it is
required to furnish, and to furnish
these in the most economical way. 1t
! is useless to attempt to grow healthy,
hardy sheep in those portions OF our
country where the variable aud stern
climate in winter necessitates feeding
and housing ut the barn four or five
months in the year, without such are
clothed with n good fleece of wool.
The larger breeds, as rule, arc
deficient in this respect Careful
housing in inclement weather, es-
pecially in time of cold rain storms
and storms of sleet and snow, will
tend to evade some of the difficulties
but 1 have observed that those who
have tried to practice on that plan
usually change their course of breed
ing on that line after a few years
trial.
As far as my experience goes, ac-
climation does something in the
way of fortifying constitutional vigor,
but cannot be relied upon as sub
stitue for stamina. Cross-breeding
with some of the mixed breeds We now
have is practical remedy, and shows
fairly good results, when the breeding
stock has been we'll selected.
There seems to be a growing de-
msnd in this country for good mutton
and lambs, and a growing inclination
among farmers to breed more mutton
sheep. Our large cities are every day
appreciating good mutton better, and
the market for lambs in early spring
and summer he's never been fully
supplied.
In fact the demand for lamb and
young mutton is not limited to spring
or summer, but all through the year
lamb retails in our meat markets at
about the highest prices for meats.
1t is evident to meet this demand of
the market calls for changes in breed
ing. And to improve our stock or to
keep it up to certain standard, re-
quires skill and good judgment Any
one to succeed in this line must look
well to the rams he selects for sires
OF his ewes kept for breeding stock.
And it is proper to remark that on no
account should u cross-bred or grade
ram be used as breeder. Farm,
Field and Fireside.
| FARM AND GARDEN NOTES.