Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-08-29

Sheep husbandry should receive
more attention from the farmers of
this country than it does at the pres
ent time. Unquestionablv sheep rails
ing could profitably be fitted into the
general management Of thousands of
farms where there is none at the pres
ent time. On many other farms the
size of the flock could be increased and
more attention given to this branch of
farming with resulting profit to the
owner.
The various phases of sheep indus
try afford numerous channels through
which the skill of the producer can
display itself The breeding of pure
bred stock offers special inducements
TO many, while a larger number are
content with the production of mutton
and wool for market purposes. In the
breeding of purebred stock the begin
ner has a number of valuable breeds
from which he can make a selection.
1t is not SO much the breed selected
that will lead to success as it is the
care and management. 1t must be
noted, however, that certain breeds
have a wider range of adaptability
and are more popular. The number of
purebred flocks is increasing every
year and the demand for good breed
ing stock is more than keeping pace
with the increase.
With a commercial flock there are
several phases that are worthy of con-
sideration. Early spring lambs is one
of the most important while late
spring or early fall lambs should re-
ceive due consideration. The produc-
ton of winter or so-called LIGHTHOUSE"
lambs is well worth undertaking by
those who are favorably situated. This
early lamb is a high-priced product
and should prove profitable under ia
vorable conditions.
Many farmers have disposed of
their fiocks and many others have re-
Trained from entering the business be-
cause of some of the difficulties that
are peculiar to this industry Among
the most important of these are cur
logs, parasites, and diseases. A GER
tain amount of trouble is inevitable
where these abound, but ordinarily
this should not be sufficient to discour-
age the flock master. Good manage
ment and proper care will control. if
not eliminate, these difficulties The !
flock that must rustic for itself is the |
one that suffers most from these |
sources. Sheep are good scavengers, |
but should not be made to SubSist !
upon weeds alone, with little or no
on the part of the farmer |
The sooner the owner realizes that his |
sheep can not return satisfactory
profits under such conditions, the bet
hn 70. A
and feed given to the flock generally |
yields the greatest returns.
Sheep have ever been in the van +
guard Of civilization. This country has |
been no exception in this respect. The |
of cheap lands has con
stantly drawn the industry westward, |
creating a quite general impression |
that sheep are Improbable upon high !
priced land This may have been true
in the past, but the industry is under |
going an evolution. The range is al |
most completely occupied and is con-
stantly decreasing in extent. The cost |
Of running sheep in the range county |
has gradually increased, and today |
many western people are returning TO |
the east for the purpose of raising |
sheep. The period Of exploitation is |
passing and new era Of constructive
livestock farming is at hand, which
means that more intensive system of
sheep farming upon high-priced land
must follow. This is already in evil
dence in certain localities and, with
better care than is now generally given
he sheep, should prove more extensive. /.
Ia England the question is not whether
you can afford to keep sheep on high
priced land, but whether you can af-
ford to keep high-priced land without !
sheep.
THE VALUE OF SHEEP ON THE