Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-09-30
, PROSPEROUS 1NEEp RNLSE10S AQzE

A difficulty in mutton production has always been
the scarcity of stock sheep. particularly sires.
having sufficient merit to fill the standard of
cellence. The ideal sire, it 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 const1-
tutional and vital powers.
1t has likewise to be regarded essen
tial, above pointed out, that mutton sheep
should have good fleece well as good
carcass. This combination has been proven both
practical and profitable and it is longer
garded necessary grow sheep for a fleece,
another for a and another lamb. An
intelligent, up-to-date fockmaster combines them
all in class Some of the best mutton sheep
producing profitable heeces those kept
exclusively for wool and their lambs decidedly
superior AS is well known, one of the first es-
sentials in good fleece is compactness dem
sity. this quality not only insuring a better yield
of wool, but also anording better protection
against storm. This indicates harder animal
and better able to withstand exposure. 1t is
desirable to have close, even dense fleece with
no breaks, cover all parts of the body, including
the head limbs and under parts, and the tendency
in latter day breeding is toward carrying the
fleece completely 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
come to be pretty well understood that such in
huences diminish both the length and strength of
fiber and fneness. whereas, length and strength
of fiber are essential qualities in good fleece.
the greatest quantity of it. and expert opinion is
to the effect that fleece almost invariably begins
to decline in value after sheep has passed the
age of four years. The best grade of wool is
invariably found the part of the shoulder.
and wrinkles folds of the skin about the neck
or other parts of the body detrimental, mas
much as the wool that grows within these folds
is unlike other parts of the fleece and there a
consequent lack of uniformity
The proper feeding of sheep is of the chief
responsibilities connected with the industry. In
some localities the "selffeeder" is extensively
employed. but in other localities it is much
favor. Properly cured alfalfa has come up won
derfully in popularity food for sheep and
many sheep feeders have purchased extensive
areas of alfalfa for in this connection Many
Colorado and Minnesota have shelter for their
focks, but it Is generally conceded that prop
erly constructed sheds advantage al
though of course involving considerable outlay In
the of large feeding yards. Some of the
most progressive sheep recommend
feeding three times a day although others still
cling to the old idea that it is not necessary to
feed more than twice day. Along with all these
other requisites for in sheep raising
is the necessity for the good shepherd judg-
ment and experience Even the range where
sheep are supposed to be able to shift for them
selves there is a tendency employ a better
class of men as sheep herders.