Weekly journal-miner., 1915-04-14
DOGS THE FARM
 SHEETS WORST ENEMY

the western division, could be increas-
 cd by 150 per cent, it IS estimated
 without displacing other livestock
 Some authorities believe that the in
 crease could be even as much as soc
 per cent without serious interference
 with the number of other animals
 An increase of 150 per cent in these
 30 states would mean in money $144,-
 267,000. In a new publication of the
 department of agriculture, farmers
 bulletin 652, the responsibility 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 ten years
 between 1900 and 1910 the number of
 sheep in the country, exclusive of the
 states in the western division, decreas-
 ed 100000 head, in face of the fact
 that during these same years the mar
 ket value of sheep rose so rapidly
 that the total value of sheep in this
 area was $19,00000O or approximate
 ly 25 per cent more in 1910 than in 1900. Favorable though the market
 conditions were, they were not a
 sufficient 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 36 farming states more than 100000 sheep are killed each year by dogs. This, it is true, is less than l per cent of the total num- Der of sheep in this area, but 1 per cent loss on a business that is being conducted on profit basis of 5 or 6 per cent cannot be ignored. This es innate it must be remembered is also probably much lower than the actual figures. It 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 1 per cent. Any one who has actually seen sheep killed, injured, or frightened by dogs is likely to think twice before en- gazing in the business. In many cases while only or sheep may be actually bitten by the dogs, the whole flock is chased until it dies from ex- haustion.
 If the dog question could be satis factorily 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 indicat- ed In Great Britain there is sheep . or lamb for each 25 acres of the total area. In the 36 farming states in this country there is l sheep or lamb for each SIS acres. The British farmer handles his land on an intensive basis and feeds his sheep on forage-crop pastures Such pastures not only in crease the fertility of the land but also free the sheep from many para sites contracted through grazing up on permanent pastures. In particular the use of a succession of forage-crop pastures 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 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 lnce of a small flock of sheep cannot De overlooked.
 In addition to pointing out these ,acts the bulletin already mentioned, The Sheep-Killing Dog" discusses he possible means Of preventing in he future the loss from dogs. At he present time the various state avs on this subject differ widely, some states using the money obtained rom dog licenses to reimburse sheep owners, while others permit the sheep nen to recover damages from the log owners and two offer them no -ecourse whatsoever. Dogs, how ,ver, are very seldom caught in the .ct of killing sheep. It is always diff , icult to determine their owners, and { where the damages are paid by the tate directly from the dog-tax funds : he money very frequently is far from to meet all the claims.
 A remedy that is suggested for ] his situation is a uniform state dog , aw embodying the principle of a tax [ pon dogs sufficiently heavy to dis outrage those who are not willing to ake care of their pets from keeping 1 hem. Under this plan all dogs over