The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-10-21
e0oaeE1oM5 JNxEe AAx5ER5 A0ME

A difhculty in mutton production has always been
the scarcity OF stock sheep. particularly sires,
having sufficient merit to fill the standard of ex-
cellence. The ideal SIRE 1t may be added should
be impressive. resoute and of noble bearing
distinctly the head Of the flock in every sense OF
the word. This requires. of course good consti-
tutional and vital powers
1t has likewise come to be regarded as essen-
tial. as above pointed out. that mutton sheen
should have good fleece as well az a good
carcass. This combination has been proven both
practical and profitable. and 1t is no longer ra-
garded necessary to grow one sheep for a fleece.
another for carcass and another for a lamb An
intelligent, up-todate fockmaster combines them
all In one class. Some of the best mutton sheer
are producing as profitable feeces as thosa rsnt
exclusively for wool and their lambs are decidedIv
superior. As Is well known one of the frat .s
senuais In good fleece Is compactness mr. den.
sity, this quality not only insuring better Weld
OF wool. but also afording better nrotection
against storm. This indicates harder animal
ana one better able to Withstand exposure. It Is
desirable to have close, even, dense fleece. with
no breaks, cover all parts of the body. inclrdinr
the head. limbs and under parts, and the tendency
IN latter day breeding is toward carrying the
neece more completely over the head. face. limbs
and under parts - $3.50
Inc far-sghted sheep raiser is also coming IN
guard against neglect or undue exposure of his
~ -o~S VI SAShnccs OF luQeeQ anything that
VIII impair the vitality of the animals. for n he.
come to be pretty well understood that such in
nuences diminish both the length and strength or
hber and hneness, whereas, length and strenoth
OF nber are essential qualities In a good aaeca
Wellfed sheep always produce the best wool ana
the greatest quantity Of It, and expert opinion ,s
to the effect that fleece almost invariahiv he1,,.
to decline In value after sheen has naeeed ~.
age OF four years. The best grade Of VOL ..
invariably found on the rear part of the shoulder
and wrinkles or folds OF the skin about tbe necr
or other parts of the body are detrimental ins.-
much as the wool that grows within these folds
is unlike other parts Of the fleece and there ia =
consequent lack of uniformity
Inc proper feeding of sheep is one of the chfes
responsibilities connected with the industrv In
some localities the "self-feeder" IL extena,vaIv
employed but in other localities 1t is not In rnuch
favor Properly cured alfalfa has come mn vvor.
deriuiiy In popularity as food for sheen and
many sneep feeders have purchased extensive
areas OF aiaifa for use In this connection. MANY
OF the large feeders in such states "a Nehraeka
Colorado and Minnesota have no shelter for their
hooks. but 1t Is generally conceded now that nror,
eriy constructed sheds are an ADVANTAGE al
though, OF course, involving considerable ontlav n
the case OF large feeding yards Some Of the
most progressive sheep men now recommend
feeding three times day, although others at,II
cling to the old idea that it is not necessary "a
feed more than twice day. Along with all thesa
other requisites for success in sheen raising tbere
Is the necessity for the good shepherd Of iudr.
ment and experience Even on the range where
sneep are supposed to be able to shift for then
selves there is a tendency to employ a better
class OF men sheep herders