The Dermott news., 1916-07-20
GROWING ANIMALS ON THE
 FARM
No. 7. Sheep and 6oat RaisIoo. Ky H. E. Dyornchek, Professor of Ami
 maj Husbsndry. University

'''N't oi SHOWS tEal nle sheep industry has been on the decline during the last few years. The prices paid for mutton lambs on the markets during the last two wears would indicate that such must be the case Fat lambs have been selling around l2 cents per pound this year. and the demand seems to be greater than the supply Wool also shows an Increase over prices of say, two years ago. We also find that goats shipped troN the Southves to Kansas CItv have found ready sale as mutton st far prices where they reached the market in good condition II would seem that an increase in production Of both sheep and goats might well come from The south and .ne South west
 The sheep is serving it's best purpose as sort of scaNeHger on the farm keeping down weeds in pastures and on the farm fiji general Ii is not uncommon to see well established pas lures put under cultivation here in AT. kansas for no other reason than that noNious weeds had become so well established that the more desirable grasses were crowded out \ few $heep would have saved such pasture and made mutton and wool in doing so The goat. on the other hand if al it's best among the brush and hriars with which our Ozark hills are ahundanuy covered Whether one wishes to put such land under cultiva. tlon or into permanent pasture. the underbrush
 While the sheep is generally con. sidered as q sCayds~er i' + not best to treat il as such and make | depend upon what il can find in the way of weeds for Il living
 A few sheep will serve the triple purpose of keeping the farm clean of weeds furnish mutton which k one of the best sources Of meat supply for summer use. and produces fleece which al present prices should show neat sum as clear profit The mutton value of the sheep would easily cover cost of production. Fall lambs for the Christmas trade are possible in this climate and their production would add 70 profits
 The goat, especially the AnGora, Is essentially browser. although after being used for s time on brush it has been found that they gradually tahe to grass and neglect sprouts Where i, is the desire to brush the land goats should be used instead of sheep Goats which have not been ueed toe LcAg for ssch purposes should be SC lected ss they have proven more as siYuctive 70 the underbrush than old brushes especially fl tAere ,s any grass growing on the land One year of brushing with goats is not sun, oient 10 clear the land completely al. new sprouts will shoot up from the root Two and even three years are necessary 10 kill brush completely. As producer of meat the goat is increas ing In popularity Large numbers of goats have been killed and sold for mItton In the past. The number Is increasing and Il Is found that ths quality of the meat is not inferior to mutton In fact the claim Is made that it 1. superior 10 mutton, especial ly when the Goats are young and fat tened op the sprouts A game havoe iS present which has leAs 10 the use of the term "venison" Co distinguish h from mutton The fleece from the Aneora has always commanded a higher price per pound than wool This mohair. as it Is called. when oi good quality sells At several times the price paid for wool It Is true how ever ths, the weight of average neeces is less than that of wool heeees As A producer of mest apc mohair. and as valuable help in brushing land. the Angors goat shoull prove profitable animal in . large part of Arkansas.
 The greatest draAback to the sheer and goat raising seems to be the sheep-killing dog Not that so many gre actually killed. but because the feartof losses keeps many prospective breeders from going Into the business, States where the industries have pros pered have enacted dog laws which made the owner of the dog ltsbhe. or at least made il possible to put such dogs out of the way. Such a law has a tendency to stimulate interest >n the venture as fear of losses is part ly overcome and loss can actually be reduced
 It is the opinion of some that dis eases common to sheep and goats would be more prevalent should the industry be developed because of eli matic conditions The industry has not developed extensively enough to show that such would or would not bs tAA case