Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-13
DOGS WORST ENEMY
OF SHEEP ON FARM
American Fiocks Would Double If This
Menace Could be Removed.


Washington, April 1.-THE num-
Der of sheep in the thirty six farm
states, which do not include any in
the western division, could be IN
creased by $50 per cent, 1t Is esti-
mated, without displacing other live
stock. Some authorities believe that
the increase could be even as much
as 500 per cent. without serious IN
preference with the number of other
animals. An increase Of $50 per cent.
in these 86 states would mean In
money $144.2S7 900. In a new publ
cation of the Department of Agr1cul-
ture, Farmers Bulletin 652, the re-
sponsibilty for the loss to the coun-
try is laid upon the sheep killing dog.
Sheep killing dogs, it is said are
the principal cause Of the marked
decrease In the number Of sheep on
American farms. In the 10 years be-
tween 1900 and 1910 the number of
sheep in the country, exclusive of the
states in the western division, de-
creased 100000 head in face of 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 approximately
81 per cent. more in 1910 than in
1900. Favorable though the market
conditions were, they were not SUI
fcient incentive to induce farmers to
risk the heavy losses from stray dogs.
The number OF sheep killed annual
ly by dogs cannot be 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 reports
are obtainable, however, it may be
said that in the 86 farm states more
than 100000 sheep are killed, each
year by dogs. This, it is true, is less
than one per cent. of the total num-
Der of sheep in this area but a one
Per cent. loss on a business that is
being conducted on a profit basis of
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
one per cent. Any one who has ac-
tually seen sheep killed, injured, or
frightened by dogs is likely to think
twice before engaging in the business.
In many cases while only one or two
sheep may be actually bitten, the
whole flock is chased until it dies from
exhaustion.
If the dog question could be sat
isfactorily disposed Of there seems to
be no reason why the number Of
sheep in the country could not be in
creased to the extent already indi-
Gated In Great Britain there is one
sheep or lamb for each 2.5 acres Of
| the total area. In the SO farm states
in this country there is one sheep or
lamb for each 31.S acres. The Brit
| ish farmer handles his land on an
intensive basis and feeds his sheep
on forage-crop pastures. Such pas
lures not only increase the fertility
Of the land but also free the sheep
from many internal parasites con-
tracted through grazing upon perma-
nent pastures. In particular the use
of succession Of forage-crop pas
| ture will prevent stomach worms,
one Of the most prevalent and disas-
trous scourges of young stock, and
will enable the farmer to market by
the end Of June or the first Of July,
when the market prices are usually the
highest, the lambs that were born in
the late winter or early spring.
| Handled under such conditions and
on high-priced farm land the import
ance of a small flock of sheep con-
| not be overlooked.
In addition to pointing out these
facts the bulletin already mentioned,
The Sheep Killing Dog, discusses the
\ possible means of preventing in the
future the loss from dogs. At the
present time the various state laws
on this subject differ widely, some
states using money obtained from dog
licenses to reimburse sheep own
| ers, while others permit the sheep
| men to recover damages from the dog
| owners and to offer them no recourse
whatsoever. Dogs, however, are very
| seldom caught in the act Of killing
sheep. 1t is always difficult to deter
mine their owners, and where the
damages are paid by the state directly
| from the dog-tax funds the money
very frequently is far from sufficient
| to meet all the claims.
| A remedy that is suggested for this
| situation is a uniform state dog law
| embodying the principle of a tax upon
| dogs sufficiently heavy to discourage
those who are not willing to take care
/ OF their pets from keeping them. Under
! this plan all dogs over six months of
| age must be licensed each year, the
tax paid at this time Of licensing and
| a metal tag bearing the license num-
Der attached to the dogs collar. Any
dog found without this tag, unattended
and off its owners premises, may be
killed. When found unattended on a
farm where sheep are kept the dog
may be killed whether it has the tag
or not, and under any circumstances a
dog caught chasing or killing sheep
may be killed. All dogs which can be
proved to be sheep killers must be
killed whether caught in the act OF
not, and reward of $50 should be Of
fered for any one Identifying a sheep
killing dog. The money received from
dog taxes should be devoted to reim-
burse sheep owners for their lost
stock and the county should in turn
recover this money whenever possible
from the dogs owners. A special IL
cense should be issued for kennels
where large numbers of dogs are
maintained under such conditions that
they cannot possibly do any harm to
neighboring hocks.
While some such plan as this is
probably Indispensable to the full de-
Veiopment Of the sheep industry in the
United States, there are cases where
the flock master will find in its alb
sence the use of dog proof fences very
desirable. The grazing of sheep upor
comparatively small areas Of land
sown to forage crops, instead OF upor
permanent pastures in larger fields
materially reduces the area to be
fenced and makes this a practicable
precaution. In the west fences have
been built which prove a satisfactory
defense against coyotes, and the fence