Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-09-29
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difficulty in mutton production has always been
the scarcity of stock sheep, particularly sres.
having sufficient merit to fill the standard OF ex-
cellence The ideal sire. 1t may be added, should
be Impressive, resolute and of noble bearing
distinctly the head OF the flock In every sense of
the word This requires. OF course. good consu-
tutional and vital powers.
II has likewise come to be regarded essen
tial above pointed out. that mutton sheep
should have good fleece well as a good
carcass This combination has been proven both
practical and profitable, and 1t is no longer re-
garded necessary to grow one sheep for fleece
another for carcass and another for lamb. An
intelligent. up-to-date fiockmaster combines them
all in one class Some of the best mutton sheep
are producing profitable feeces those kept
exclusively for wool and their lambs are decidedly
superior. AS is well known, one of the first
sentials In a good fleece Is compactness or den
sity, this quality not only insurng a better yield
of wool. but also afording better protection
against storm. This indicates harder animal
and better able to withstand exposure. 1t is
desirable to have a close, even dense fleece with
no breaks. all parts of the body. including
the head limbs and under parts and the tendency
in latter day breeding is toward carrying the
fleece more completely over the head. face, limbs
and under parts.
The far-sighted sheep raiser is also coming to
guard against neglect undue exposure of his
flock, periods of sickness, indeed anything that
will impair the vitality of the animals, for 1t has
to be pretty well understood that such in
fiber and fneness. whereas, length and strength
of fiber are essential qualities in good fleece
Well-fed sheep always produce the best wool and
the greatest quantity of 1t, and expert opinion is
to the effect that fleece almost invariably begins
to decline in value after a sheep has passed the
age of four years The best grade of wool is
invariably found on the part of the shoulder
and wrinkles or folds of the skin about the neck
or other parts of the body are detrimental mas
much as the wool that grows within these folds
is unlike other parts of the fleece and there is a
consequent lack of uniformity.
The proper feeding of sheep is one of the chief
some localities the "selffeeder" is extensively
employed but In other localities 1t is not in much
favor. Properly cured alfalfa has come up won
derfuly In popularity food for sheep and
many sheep feeders have purchased extensive
areas of alfalfa for use in this connection. Many
of the large feeders in such states as Nebraska
Colorado ana Minnesota have shelter for their
focks, but It Is generally conceded now that prop
erly constructed sheds are an advantage al
though of course involving considerable outlay in
the case of large feeding yards. Some of the
most progressive sheep men recommend
feeding three times day although others still
feed more than twice day. Along with all these
other requisites for success in sheep raising there
is the necessity for the good shepherd of judg-
ment and experience. Even the range where
sheep are supposed to be able to shift for them
selves there is tendency to employ better
class of men sheep herders.