The Glenwood post., 1911-09-30

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, 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 consti-
tutional and vital powers
1t has likewise come to be regarded as essen
tial as above pointed out that mutton sheep
should have a good fleece we'll as a good
carcass. This combination has been proven both
practical and profitable, and 1t is no longer re-
garded necessary to grow sheep for fleece,
another for carcass and another for a'lamb An
intelligent, up-to-date fockmaster combines them
all in class. Some of the best mutton sheen
are producing profitable feeces as those kept
exclusively for wool and their lambs are decidedly
superior. AS is well known one Of the first es-
sentias in a good fleece is compactness or dem
slty, this quality not only insuring better yield
of wool. but also anording better protection
against storm. This indicates a harder animal
and better able to withstand exposure If ts
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 carving the
fleece more completely over the head, face limbs
and under parts.
The far-sighted sheep raiser is also coming to
guard against neglect or undue exposure of hts
flock, periods of sickness or indeed ANYTHING that
VIII impair the vitality of the animals for II has
come to be pretty well understood that such in
nuences diminish both the length and strength of
hber and hneness. whereas, length and strength
of fiber are essential qualities in a good heece
Well-fed sheep always produce the best wool and
the greatest quantity of it. and expert opinion ia
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 ia
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 ,naa
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
responsibilities connected with the industry In
some localities the ''self-feeder" is extensively
employed, but in other localities 1t is not in much
favor. Properly cured alfalfa has come IN won
derfuly In popularity as food for sheen and
many sheep feeders have purchased extensive
areas of alfalfa for in this connection Manv
of the large feeders in such states as Nebraska
Colorado and Minnesota have no shelter for their
nocks, but 1t 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 now recommend
feeding three times day. although Others still
cling to the old idea that 1t is not necessary to
iced more than twice day. Along with all these
other requisites for success in sheep raising there
is the necessity for the good shepherd of tudR-
ment and experience Even on the range where
sheep are supposed to be able to shift for them
selves there is a tendency to employ a better
class OF men as sheep herders