The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-04-03

l
| ment Of AKrtculture)
| Sheep husbandry should receive
more attention from the farmer o.
this country than it does at the pres
ent time. Unquestionably 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. according to the depart
ment of agriculture. y
1t has been estimated that sheep
VIII eat 80 per cent. OF all trouble.
some weeds. They are. In fact, com.
monty used In cleaning up weeds from
nelds, fence rows, roadsides, stubble
fields and corn fields. The common
belief among farmers Is that weeds
eaten by sheep are so broken up In
| the digestive processes that the seeds
Will not terminate after passing
through the body as In the case OF
| other live stock. However, weeds are
rarely permitted to go to seed II
| enough sheep are turned In the field
while the weeds are young and tender.
In some Investigations carried on
by the Canadian government among a
considerable number of sheep to de.
termine the kinds Of weeds eaten by
| them, 1t was generally agreed that
sheep would consume all but a very
few extremely unpalatable ones, such
as mullen. Scotch thistle, etc Upon
Inquiry as to the specific kinds eaten
one farmer replied that he could not
give any definite information on the
subject, as the sheep kept his farm
SO free from weeds that he could not
see what kinds they actually ate.
Where sheep have been kept. but
where for some reason they have
been disposed of, striking difference
has usually occurred in the appear
Ance OF the farm. Weeds have sprung
up and grown where they had former
ly been kept In check. There is no
better solution to the weed problem
than flock of sheep.
The farmers sheep should be a
wool and mutton sheep, with empha-
sis upon mutton. This dual purpose"
sheep, II the name be permissible Is
proved success, and 1t IL already
represented in some of the breeds.
The best type Is the most profitable
combination OF wool and mutton. The
Investigations Of the tariff board indi-
cate that sheep farming for wool alone
Is Improbable. In investigating 543
docks Of the fine-wool section OF Ohio
they found that when there was a net
credit to wool the percentage of re-
ceipts from wool was 3S and from
other sources 81. II the raising of
sheep for wool alone does not pay in
this region. 1t probably would not In
any other part of the farming section.
In establishing a flock 1t Is better
for the farmer to start on a small
scale. unless he has previously had
experience. When one is dealing with
small numbers, a mistake In manage
ment or an error IN judgment is not
so great Importance as where larger
numbers are involved. Starting with
\ small flock requires less capital also.
II 1t is desired to Augment the size of
the flock, this can be done by the
natural increase, the best eve lambs
being selected each year for the pur-
pose. This should prove more eco
nomical than buying all the breeding
stock outright. Where the stock is
produced on the farm, only the cost OF
production can rightly be charged
against 1t, but where it is purchased
the cost OF production plus profit
and very often the price Of the repu-
tation OF the breeder must be paid.
By producing the breeding stock him
self, the farmer should secure a more
uniform lot and one better adapted to
his own particular conditions. Anoth-
er advantage Of small numbers, espe-
cially where capital is limited. is that
better animals can be purchased.
The ram has as much influence
upon the flock as the entire eve flock
bred to him, which fact gives rise to
the old saying, The ram is half the
flock" The selection of the ram Is