The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-26
SHEEP AS GOOD AS HOGS
ANSWER TO SOME WHO THINK
OTHERWISE
Can BE Raised Probably as
Swine-WeII Adapted for Farm
ers with Small Capital-PrOper
Start Can Easily Be Made-Thts
Growing Industry of Interest to
the Northwest.

The growing interest in the sheep industry
in the Northwest naturally leads to the de-
velopement of some who doubt whether they
can be as profitably raised as hogs 1t. is
especially true with respect to Minnesota
that not only are the topography and climate
eminently suitable for sheep growing, but the
ability to feed economically, exists, and the
wooded lands afford protection, while pure
water is to be found everywhere. Feeding
and fattcning with wheat screenings COM
prise an industry OF itself. But for the small
farmer nothing is better adapted for profit
able sustenance drawn from the rich pastures
of Minnesota than flock of sheep. Even
in winter they require little care, and every
protection needed is found in the timber,
which is likewise closely associated with
fresh water
The Iowa Homestead, speaking of the de-
STABILITY of sheep on the smaller farms and
answering some doubts as to the advantage
OF profit as between sheep and hogs, says:
In a recent conversation with farmer who
Is a good hog breeder, he undertook to de-
cry the sheep business. and it was quite ap-
parent that while he was a good swine breed
er he knew but very little about sheep. He
took the grounds that hogs were profitable
because nearly every farmer had hogs, and
but very few of them had sheep. and hogs
Were easier raised, increased more rapidly.
and, witnal. the best kind of stock to keep
on the farm.
Now, the writer has not a word to say
against hogs, for he has been breeding them
for many years, but he does have something
TO say about sheep. Sheep can be just
probably kept by all farmers as hogs. Not
every farmer is adapted to keeping sheep,
neither can it be said that ali are equally
fitted for growing hogs. Sheep do no5 re-
quire the same kind Of treatment that hogs
do; they are greater consumers Of grass and
and have never been known to die with
cholera. They will not root up the pasture
they never eat chickens and, if they Go
die Of disease, they will never die in debt
For the man who has little capital sheep
are pre-eminently the kind of stock he ought
10 raise. If he has a rundown farm there
is greater necessity of his keeping sheep.
II his farm is weedy, he VIII find the sheep
d great assistance in keeping them down.
This same man complained that sheep could
not be kept unless you had tight fences and
at the same time lamb will not and
not go through a fence that will restrain
hogs Hogs should no more be confined
10 small. bare lots than sheep. There is Just
as much need for hog pastures as there is
for sheep pastures and the fsnce VIII have
10 be equally as good
man to be successful with sheep should
be a man who likes sheep, but if he Is pos
seSsed cf a desire TO look after small details,
and is willing to learn from a sheep he will
soon make one of the hest shepherds. All
that will be required of him will be that he
has good horse sense.
Yes, sheep are just as coed for every
body and every farm as hogs. There is not
a farm where pastures are found or where
grain and hay are grown but what would be
better by having a few sheep on it. There
need be 10 great outlay Of money to get
few sheep. A few good ewes may be had,
and by starting right, keeping right and SELL
Ing right there will be no need OF regretting
the ste" 1t will not pay to keep scrub
sheep any great length of time. Improve
ment will suggest itself 10 the owner as the
days pass, and the greater the improvement
the more the profit.