Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-02-28
USE OF MUTTON
INCREASES FAST
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WOULD ENCOURAGE SHEEP
RAISING on SOUTHERN FARMS
HOW 1T Is PROFITABLE.
GOOD PRICES HOLD
THEY ARE BELIEVED TO BE GOOD
REASONS WHY PRICES OF NUT.
Ton AND WOOL WILL CONTINUE
TO ADVANCE.

Washington, ID. g.. Feb. aS.-Thc con.
sumption Of mutton per capita i'm the
United states IL increasing every year.
tnough the amount used is much less
IN proportion TO other meat than in Eu-
rope. There are good reasons for expect.
Ing a continuation Of good prices for
mutton and lamb. aud the demand for
wool also may he expected 10 increase
more rapidly than the production. These
facts are brought out IN a recent letter
from a scientist Of the Department Of
Agriculture To a southern farmer who
inquired regarding the possibilities of
the sheep business.
The departments specialist called at
I%tcnt:On 10 the fact that while farm.rais.
I'D sheep have often not been profitable.
this has usually been because Of lack OF
proper attention and management. Nari-
attOns in price Of wool and mutton have
stood IN the way of such general inter.
est In sheep as would causc them 10 lie
regarded as highly as they should bc IN
the future. Ranges all over the world
are now carrying about "a many sheep
~ they can support under a strict range
system. and an increase in the produc-
lion Of sheep products must come mainly
from farms Here. then. j. the farmers
opportunity to take advantage of the in
creased consumption Of these products.
While mutton can be- produced at low
cost and there IL a growing demand for
II. difficulty in selling NAV he expert
enctd in sections where the amount If
live stock produced has not been snffi.
cient 10 make il worth while for regular
buyers tn operate. Strengthening plants
aA-a 49,. L- IL
reach Of all sections and il a sufficient
number Of ncichbors combine Ia have
one hundred lambs of similar breeding.
size and condition to ship Jointly the re-
turns are assured. Ii will also bc posi-
bic to secure visits and bids from BUYERS
when such n number is promised. The
lamb clubs of Tennessee. notably the one
NJ Goodlcttsvillc. have proven very sue
cessful in this work.
The same organization can also he
used in disposing Of the wool.
In countries where economy in farm
management has been studied ~ long
! time, the sheep is considered to he neces.
sary in utilizing the vegetation on
waste lands as are not wet or marshy.
But the sheep can hold its place 81 high.
priced land rs a meat producer alone.
Compared with larger animals il has
some important advantages. First. the
lambs mature very rapidly. being market
able ut four months 81 are or later. nc.
cOrding Ia breeding aud feeding. This is
an economy because a larger proportion
Of the total feed goes into increase of
weight than i'm slower growing animals.
Second. the sheep consumes q greater
variety Of plants than do other animals.
Many Of such plants are detrimental 10
paStures and would otherwise require
hand labor to hold them in check. Third.
grain waste in harvesting can he entire
" recovered bv sheep These facts
prompt some farmers 10 claim that the
summer food If sheep costs nothing he.
cause what they consume would other
wise bring no returns.
COMPARED with hogs the sheep has an
advantage in the wider variety Of mater
ials IL consumes. Being a ruminant II
makes it's gain with a minimum of grain
and expensive concentrates This - es-
pecially important an some southern
lands that are better adapted 10 the
production III forage crops than Ia grain
growing.
Like the hog. the sheep has its pecul
lar ailments which sometimes result in
loss ms well as encouragement. Unlike
the ailments of the hog. however. those
Of the sheep are ordinarily not contagl-
GUS, and the means necessary 10 proven
ton are the same as should b. adopted
for the most economical production,
even in health.
The most serious menace To- continu-
<ous thrift In the flock l. the presence 81
internal parasites. chiefly stomach
worms. The eggs Of the stomach worm
wre dropped upon the ground with the
frtrs from infected sheep. The small
worms are swallowed with the grass
three or four days after patching from
the eggs, and reach the stomach. stomach
worms are frequently present ia such
large numbers as a. draw 80 heavily
from the circulation as 10 cause emacla-
stiou and finally death of the lamb. Ma
turr sheep are much less affected hy
these worms. though they usual. scatter
the eggs.
Keeping the flock upon crops sown
mon plowei land prevents infVtioIS
Such practice also furnishes the greatest
~amount Of feed from each acre and the
Kind and variety of food upon which
sheep thrive best. Flowing the land pre-
vents danger from stomach worm eggs
s;ropped upon il. I'm warm weather the
nocL should he moved to fresh ground
every ten DAYS ar two weeks Ia prevent
infection Of lambs nv larvae from eggs
droppei from the ewes Ii lambs are by
themselves the time between changes
might lie longer. but in most forage crop
rotation changes will need tn he made
every two or three weeks. Fall sown rye.
sprinc oats ar vctchcs Of peas. rape. cow
.x, .wtnsSAn mn #Ianan flp-