Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-28
Breeding and Exhibiting Sheep
BY Prof. w. j. Kennedy, of Ames

OF unusual interest because it cover
ed the subject so Thoroughly was the
following paper on Breeding and Elk
hibiting Sheep" delivered by w. j.
Kennedy, vice director of he Iowa
experiment station at Ames, before
the Iowa Sheep Breeders and
Wool Growers association here yes
terday afternoon
A breeder to be successful must be
an enthusiast, and must take special
pains to obtain the best information
available as to the attributes and
characteristics of the breed of his Sc
lection. He must have an ideal, high
ideal. and if he is a truly construc-
tive breeder, his ideal will advance
from year to year in accordance with
the improvements obtained in his
flock. In other words he must never
stop in the belief that he has accom-
plished perfection. The real fasclna-
ton of animal breeding lies in the
fact that there is always plenty OF
room for advancement. The amateur
oftentimes produces the perfect AMI
nal. but the real breeder, never.
The breeding Of sheep calls for the
very highest degree of skill on the
part of man. He must possess care
fully trained eye. The man who does
not see things had better leave TINS
work and take up some other line OF
work where less skill and judgment
are required. Blackwell, more than a
century ago, said that it was easier 10
find twelve men with the ability and
other qualifications necessary TO MI
the position of prime minister OF Eng.
land than one who possessed the nee
essary qualifications of truly con-
structive breeder of live stock. me
breeder of live stock is moulder Oh
FORMS He deals with living Things.
Unlike the painter or the sculptor ne
cannot change the color or ch1sel out
g, new form. He must be thoroughly
familiar with natures laws. He must
apply these laws to his breeding OPP
erations. Thus he must deal with the
present and the past with the hope OF
controlling the future generations
What other line of work depends SO
much on the man in charge?
The Most Suitable Breed.
, Having decided to embark in the
sheep breeding business, and by the
way there is no other field of ANNA
i, husbandry work which offers greater
possibilities to the American farmer
than fair sized flock of sheep, the
| first consideration is, which breed tt
/ select. This is something which eacf
and every man must in measure de
eide for himself. There is no bes
/ breed. The first consideration is
which breed is best adapted to the 10
cality and the particular farm wher'
2 the flock Is to be kept. Right here lie
me say that the majority of our Amer
: lean people do not pay enough atten
:. ton to this factor. In England, tn
r home of such a large number of on
S leading mutton breeds, it is very large
ly the adaptability of the breed to tn
r farm and locality and not the fame
!. of the man, which determines tn
I. breed. If this is necessary in sma
country lkA England, why should
k not be even more essential in larg
r country like the United States. In al
riv.ng at such decision, many in
d portant points must be looked at, sue
# as the nature of the soil, the quallt
of the pastures, the climate and alt
! tude and the breed of sheep most like
$ " to find customers in the distrlc
For instance, on rich low land
% would be wise to select a breed ne
Il too much given to lameness (foot-rot
whereas, on high and rolling far
with a rather poor soil. 1t would ne
j. be advisable to introduce lare
= breed of sheep, but on the contrar
. the smaller breeds, especially thos
= descended from mountain or hi
8. breeds would be most suitable.
= Sometimes it will be found wis
ct course to be the only breeder of pa
ticular breed of sheep in neighbo
. hood and thus escape the severe cor
/ petition experienced for that partic
n lar breed in it's greatest stronghold
This latter consideration is worthy
Mt more attention than is usually give
e. to it. 1t often happens that compa
nc atively unknown breeder in local.
where his particular breed is not Il
lis breed of the district, can sell null
Der of rams at good prices for eros
ing purposes. There is, undoubted1
great scope for good judgment in t
eu selection of a breed which will ri
the best returns, taking into consid'
of alton the soil and climatic conditio
h of where they are to be kept.
Foundation of Flock.
NJ Having definitely decided viii
breed YOU are going to take up, it
advisable to go rather slow in ms
: ing your selections. First, thorough
!. inform yourself on the various CHI
). acteristics and Of the weak and stro
,rt points of the breed in question. II
no will take some time on your part a
considerable patience on the part
the breeders with whom you are c.
rn. ferrina. The shows are a good place
,ad get a portion of the needed inforr
ton. but the best sheep breeding
nh Establishments usually furnish
greatest source.
co It is important that you secure gc
sde type at the outset. In the last analy
aw- it is the presence of the desired t.
Ter, which gives man pre-eminence
the sheep business. In the selection
BLY, the eve stuff. adhere rather rigidly
the type which meets with your
ent prevail The great object should be
aft procure uniform. evenly matched