Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-25
Developing the Farm Flock.
NO LIVESTOCK MORE PROFITABLE THAN
HIGH CLASS MUTTON SHEEP.

The increasing high prices of all kinds
of grain foods and commercial by
products and the gradual decline In the
productivity of the farms in many OF thu
agricultural sections are rapidly bring
ing about changed conditions and tend.
encies in the breeding and feeding OF live
stock. There is no type of liveslocs
husbandry better adapted to the presen,
economic conditions and tendencies thar
the breeding and feeding Of fine muttor
sheep, and, in my opinion, this branch
of livestock breeding and feeding is des'
tined to play an important part In the
agriculture of the future, and in many
cases replace other less profitable kinds
of animal husbandry.
As grain foods increase in cost and
farmers more fully realize the necessity
of growing animals that can utilize theil
home grown foods at profit their ap'
probation of the sheep increases. Many
farmers are keeping sheep for their
ability to renovate the soil and keep
down weeds, in both of which roles the
sheep is a demonstrated success. But
the men who will make the most success
with sheep are the practical farmers
who will provide their focks with com.
Portable quarters and liberal rstions.
No man can succeed in developing a
flock of sheep to Its most profitable
capacity and allow them to consume
nothing but waste and refuse. Sheep
will eat waste folders and weeds and
thrive at certain times during the year,
but the true flockmaster does not keep
them because they are good scavengers.
He likes his sheep because they respond
to good care and are capable of utilizing
and turning to profit the feed that he
grows on his own farm on purpose for
them. Sheep that are kept simply as
scavengers soon assume the character
istic aspect that the name would signify.
Sheep breeding and feeding are going
to become more popular because farmers
are becoming better educated and know
that high class mutton is becoming
more and more popular in our leading
city markets and that wool is another
important item to consider at its present
prices.
The comparatively low cost OF keeping
an excellent breeding flock and the
small expense for grain foods required
to finish wethers for the market look
very attractive to the farmer with a
trained business mind. No farmer who
reads and thinks will dispute the fact
that sheep breeding and feeding offer
better inducements to the average farm
er than any other branch OF livestock
feeding at the present time. 1t is not
the specialist who feeds thousands OF
sheep for market who is in the best
position to realize the largest profits
from the sheep feeding business, but the
farmer who is breeding and feeding a
farm flock of improved mutton sheep.
The specialized sheep breeder, importer
and feeder is constantly taking risks,
but not so with the farmer who is keep
ing farm flock of fifty to two hundred
we'll bred mutton sheep.
In getting together flock the farmers
with little experience should work into
the business gradually and cautiously by
buying about six well bred ewes, which
can usually be purchased for from Sl5 to
S25 and upward, and the best ram that
can be found at a reasonable price. BY
devoting close attention to few choice
ewes and we'll bred ram the owner Can
make close study of the individuality
and breeding of his small flock before
making heavier investment, and then
it is easier and more simple to gradually
develop his knowledge of the business
while the flock is increasing and develop
ing and be able to wrestle with the many
new problems that are constantly pre-
senting themselves as the flock more
nearly reaches perfection.
The farmers as a rule are not properly
equipped to raise high class breeding
sheep, for a man must be specialist ii
he wishes to make the greatest possible
success of the business. 1t is the high
class city trade that appeals most strong
ly to the owners of farm focks, and they
will find many very profitable markets
open to their product If they will fur
nish them with the very highest quality
of mutton.
In every large city there is growing
demand for prime mutton, and the peo-
pie who make this demand are the very
ones who have the money to pay for any
thing that pleases their palates. Few
farmers realize the extremely high
prices that fancy mutton commands in
the markets of the large eastern cities.
Some of the richest patrons know the
taste of really prime mutton, aud are
willing to pay the price when they find
what they really want. There is no
branch of livestock feeding that affords
more certain profits than flock of NUT.
ton sheep, we'll fed, we'll cared for and
finished for market 80 that they will
,raot tha dema anda nf the fancy club and
hotel trade of our large eastern cities
W. Milton Kelley, South Wales, N. T.,
in Tribune Farmer.