The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1915-04-10
Dogs The Farm Sleeps Worst Enemy

mated. without displacing other live
| stock. Some authorities believe that
the increase could be even as much
as 500 per cent without serious in
reference with the number of other
animals An increase of $50 per cent
in these SO states would mean in
money $144,267 900. In new publ
cation of the Department of Agricul-
ture, Farmers Bulletin 652, the res
possibility for this loss to the country
Is laid upon the sheep-killing dog.
Sheep-killing dogs, it is said, are
| the principal cause of the marked de-
crease in the numbers of sheep on
American farms. In the 10 years
between 1900 and 1910 the number of
sheep in the country, exclusive of the
States in the Western Division, de-
creased 100000 head, in face If the
fact that during these same years the
market value OF sheep rose so rapidly
that the total value of sheep in this
area was $19,000,000, or approx
mately % per cent more in 1910 than
in 1900 Favorable though the market
| conditions were, they were not suf-
q llCltllI llllSllllNG W ldi iilSl W
risk the heavy losses from stray dogs.
The number of sheep killed an
nually by dogs cannot be stated eX-
actly since there are many cases
which are rot reported at ali. Judg-
, ing from the figures in those counties
and states in which reasonably COM
| plete reports are obtainable, however,
| it may be said that in the SO farm
states more than 900 sheep are
! killed each year by dogs. This, it is
true, is less than l per cent of the
total number of sheep in this area,
but per cent loss on a business that
is being conducted on a perfect basis
of or 6 per cent cannot be ignored.
This estimate. it must be remembered
is also probably much lower than the
actual figures. 1t is certain, too, that
many men have been kept out of the
sheep business through fear that in
their own particular cases the loss
would be much more than l per cent.
| Any one who has actually seen sheep
killed, injured, or frightened by dogs
is likely to think twice before engag-
ing in the business. In many cases
while only one or two sheep may be
actually bitten by the dogs, the whole
flock is chased until it dies from en-
haustion
If the dog question could be salts
| factorily disposed of there seems, to
be no reason why the number of sheep
in the country could not be increased
to the extent already indicated. In
Great Britain there is one sheep or
lamb for each % acres of the total
area. In the 36 farm states in this
NoI'll' -, Si'eie Il 7heep OF lai.io lof
t gaCn pI'S "GrsS; me brltlSn farmer
''"',"ie9 ms la"u "! an intensive OASIS
anu ireoS ms sheep Oh ioIaSe-cTop
pasture oucll pastures not only IN
oieaSe tile lertnltS ol the ana out
|IS , Tree me Sieep from MANY inter-
;,'I l'IIa'I'es colIVticteo through graz
~ Hpo, permanent pastures. IN par
llSuiai we use VI succession ol TOT
ap az pastures YIN prevent sIoth-
SCij NolIiis, one VI li'e most preN".eht
ara "iSaSl[ou .,I ScoIFgeS OF young
Storh' ana Wili e,anle the farmer 10
l M NJ oN tne elIo OF June OF tne nrSt
u yuiI' w!Gh MARKER prices are US
"'!IH lhe li9he>I lle fahioS nat were
TIrh i, 10 Jhe late winter or carry ori9g'
20 "Iuer >u,'H COZ dltlotS ana on
ns'h-prlce,II Farm Ialo the importance
OF SnaiI HocN OF Sheep cannot De
over IooHGu -,
= ~ a4u'(loll 70 polHIiIg OUT VheSe
s. aT.S' sIe nuIlGtii aIFTauV mentioned
ne ohgG p-Nl'llilS Jog discusses
NE ne posslo!g means Oh preVeh'iEg IN
t'e l"tuie IHe IoSS from uoSS' Al the
IleSel.I !IilIe I tne N"I!GuS State laWS on
ul!S sun e't ullIel Wloe!E' some states