The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1916-08-11
GROWING ANIMALS ON THE
FARM
No. 7. Sheep and Goat Raising.
by II. +. DVorachek, Professor of Ami
NAL Husbandry, University

"A recent report from the Bureau
OF Animal Industry of the U. S. De-
partment OF Agriculture shows that
the 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 years
would indicate that such must be the
case Fat lambs have been selling
around II 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
from the Southwest to Kansas City
have found ready sale as mutton at
fair prices where they reached the
market in good condition Il would
seem that an increase in production
OF both sheep and goats might well
come from the South and the South
west
The sheep is serving its best purpose
as a sort of scavenger on the farm.
keeping down weeds in pastures and
on the farm in general 1t is not
lures put under cultivation here in Ar
kansas for no other reason than that
noXious weeds had become so well
established that the more desirable
grasses We're crowded out 4 few
sheep would have saved such pasture
and made mutton and wool in doing
so. The goat, on the other hand, is
at its best among the brush and
briars with which our Ozark hills are
abandantly covered. Whether one
wishes to put such land under cultiva.
ton or into permanent pasture, the
first problem is the removal of the
underbrush.
While the sheep is generally con.
sideeed as a scavanger= it is not best
to treat it as such and make il depend
upon what il can find in the way of
weeds for a living
A few sheep will serve the triple
+ purpose of keeping the farm
clean of weeds, furnish mutton,
which is one of the best sources
Of meat supply for summer use,
/ and produces a fleece which at
present prices should show neat
sum as a 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 to profits.
The goat, especially the Angora, is
essentially a browser, although after
being used for a time on brush il has
been found that they gradually take
to grass and neglect sprouts. Where
It is the desire to brush the land goats
should be used instead of sheep.
Goats which have not been used too
long for such purposes should be Sc
lected as they have proven more oe-
struetive to the underbrush than old
brushes especially if there is any
grass growing on the land. One year
Of brushing with goats is not suffi-
cient TO clear the land completely as
new sprouts will shoot up from the
root Two and even three years are
necessary to kill brush completely. AS
a producer of meat the goat is increas-
ing in popularity. Large numbers Of
goats have been killed and sold for
mutton in the past The number is
/ increasing and it is found that the
quality of the meat is not inferior to
mutton In fact the claim is made
that it is superior to mutton, especial
~ when the goats are young and fat
tened on the sprouts. A game flavor
is present which has lead to the use
of the term "venison" to distinguish
it from mutton. The fleece from the
Angora has always commanded a
higher price per pound than wool
This mohair, as it is called, when OF
good quality sells at several times the
price paid for wool It is true, how
ever that the weight Of average
feeces is less than that of wool
feeees. As producer of meat and
mohair, and as valuable help in
brushing land, the Angora goat should
prove a profitable animal in large
part Of Arkansas.
The greatest drawback to the sheep
and goat raising seems to be tne
sheep-killing dog. Not that so many
are actually killed. but because The
fear of 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 liable, OF
at least made it possible TO put such
dogs out of the way. Such law has
tendency TO stimulate interest IT
the venture as fear Of losses is part
~ overcome, and loss can actually be
reduced.
II is the opinion of some that dis
, eases common TO sheep and goats
would be more prevalent should rnt
industry be developed because of eli
matte conditions. The industry ha:
not developed extensively enough t.
show that such would or would not b
the case.