The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-04-07
MORE SHEEP
COULD Be RAISED
Production of Sheep Might Be In
creased From $50 to 500 Per
Cent According to Epcrts..
DOGS, FARM SLEEPS ENEMY
If This Menace Were Removed the
American Flocks Could Be Eas-
iiy More Than Doubled:

Washington. d. c.. April = Especial
to the Reyiewl--Then number OF sheep
in the 36 farm states, which do SPOT
include any in the western division
could be Increased by $50 per cent. II
is estimated, without displacing Other
live stock. Some authorities believs
that the increase could be even as
much as 500 per cent without serious
interference with the number OF othei
animals. An increase OF $50 per zen:
in these Sc states would mean i'll mon
ey $l44,2G7 900. In a new publication
of the department of agriculture. Farm
ers Bulletin 652, the responsibility Tor
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 decrease
in the numbers of sheep on American
farms. In the ten years between l9eu
and 1910 the number of. sheep in the
country, exclusive OF the states in the
western division. decreased 3.O0O.O0u
|. cad. in face of the fact that during
these same years the market value oi
sheen rose SO rapidly that the total
value of sheep in this area was $l9.
1OO, 900 or approximately 25 per cent
more In 1910 than in 1900. Favorable
though the market conditions were
they were not sufficient incentive Ia
induce farmers to risk the heavy loss
as from stray dogs.
The number of sheep killed annually
by dogs can. not he stated exactly
since there are many cases which are
not reported at all. Judging from the
figures in those counties and states in
which reasonably complete records are
|obtainabie, however. it may be said
that in the 36 farm states more than
lou, 900 sheep are killed each year by
dogs. This, it is true, is less than
per cent of the total number OF sheer
in this area. but per cent loss OH
a business that is being conducted on
a profit basis OF or 6 per cent can
not be ignored. This estimate, it must
be remembered, is also probably much
lever than the actual figures. 1t Is
certain too that many men have beer
kept out OF the sheep business throusl
fear that in their own particular cas-
es the loss would be much more thar
per cent. Any one who has actual,
seen sheep killed, injured or fright
aned by dogs is likely to think twic'
before engaging in the business. III
many cases while only.l or 2 shect
may be actually bitten by the dogs
the whole flock is chased until 1t dies
from exhaustion.
If the dog question could be salts
factorily disposed of there seems t.
be no reason why the number of sheer
in the country could not be increased
TO the extent already indicated. Il,
Great Britain there is one sheep OIL
lamb for each 2.5 acres OF the tota
area. In the Sc farm states in this
country there is one sheep or lamb foi
each 3l.S acres. The British farmer
handles his land on an intensive basis
and feeds his sheep on forage crop pas
lures. Such pastures not only in
crease the fertility of the land. but
also free the sheep from many intern
al parasites contracted through graz
ing upon permanent pastures. In par
ticular the use of succession OF for
age crop pastures will prevent stom
acn worms, one OF the most prevaicnI
and disastrous scourses of young stocl
and will enable the farmer to market
by the end of June or the first OF July
when market prices are usually tht
| highest, the lambs that were born ir
the late winter or early spring
Handled under such conditions and OF