The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17

@.E 49, "a w VI Y pei
capita in the United States is
increasing every year, though
the amount used Is much less In pro-
portion to other meat than In Europe.
There are good reasons for expect
ing q continuation of good prices for
mutton and lamb, and the demand
for wool also may be expected to in.
crease more rapidly than the produc-
ton.
While farm-raised sheep have often
not been profitable, this has usually
been because of lack of proper at
tention and management. Variations
in price of wool and mutton have
stood in the way of such general
interest in sheep as would cause them
to be regarded as highly as they
should be in the future. Ranges all
over the world are now carrying
about as many sheep as they can
support under a strict range system,
and an increase in the production OF
sheep products must come mainly
from farms. Here, then, is the farm.
er's opportunity to take advantage OF
the increased consumption Of these
products.
Low Cost Of Mutton.
While mutton can be produced at
low cost and there is a growing de.
mand for it. difficulty in selling may
be experienced in sections where the
amount OF livestock produced has not
been sufficient to make 1t worth while
Tor regular buyers to operate.
Strengthening plants that can handle
carloads are within reach of all sec.
lions, and il a sufficient number OF
neighbors combine to ship jointly the
returns are assured, 1t will also be
possible to secure visits and bids
from buyers when such a number is
promised. The lamb clubs of Ten.
nessee, notably the one at Goodletts.
vile. have proven very successful in
this work.
The same organization can also be
used in %disposing of the wool.
In countries where economy In
farm management has been studied a
long time, the sheep is considered to
be necessary in utilizing vegetation
on such waste lands as are not wet
or marshy. Bit the sheep can hold
its place on high-priced land as a
meat producer alone. Compared with
larger animals it has some important
advantages.
First, the lambs mature very
rapidly, being marketable at four
months of age or later, accord
ing to breeding and feeding. This
is an economy because a large pro-
portion of the total feed goes into
Increase of weight than in slower
growing animals. Second, the sheep
a greater variety of plants
than do other animals. Many OF such
plants are detrimental to pastures
and would otherwise require hand
labor to hold them In check. Third,
grain waste in harvesting can be en-
tirely recovered by sheep. These
facts prompt some farmers to claim
that the Summer food Of sheep costs
nothing, because what they consume
would otherwise bring no returns.
hutunNdxc OVtF f1O8Ss
Compared with hogs the sheep has
an advantage in the wider variety
OF materials 1t consumes. Being q
ruminant it makes its gain with a
minimum of grain and expensive
concentrates. This is especially i'm
portant on some southern lands that
are better adapted to the production
Of forage crops than to grain grow.
ing.
Like the hog, the sheep has Its
peculiar ailments which sometimes
result in loss as we'll as discourage
ment. Unlike the ailments of the
hog. however, those Of the sheep
are ordinarily not contagious, and
the means necessary to prevention
are the same as should be adopted
for the most economical production,
wen in health.
The most serious menace to con-.
tinuous thrift in the flock Is the
presence OF internal parasites, chiefly
stomach worms. The eggs of the
stomach worm are dropped upon the
ground with the feces from infected
sheep. The small worms are swal-
lowed with the grass three or four
days after Matching from the eggs,
and reach the stomach. Stomach
worms are frequently present in such
large numbers as to draw so heavily
from the circulation as to cause
annexation and finally death of the
lamb. Mature sheep are much less