Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-12-09
ARKANSAS SHOULD
 HAVE MORE SHEEP
During 1916 the United States Raised
 Only 35 Per Cent of Wool She Used.
By J. H. Mcleod, Senior Livestock Specialist, Extension Division, Uni versity of Arkansas.


 versity of Arkansas.
 j Arkansas should have more sheep. The need of raising more sheep is ap- parent from the fact that in 1916 the United States raised only 35 per cent of the wool she used. There has been very large increase in the demand for mutton to feed the millions of men who are now on the European front, I'd while the demand has been for more sheep, the number of sheep has decreased in the United States, due to the opening up of Government land in the West for settlement and the losses in sheep upon the ranges through disease
 Although there have not been many sheep raised in this state, we know that Arkansas has number of ad- vantages for sheep production. We have very mild climate and for this reason can produce grass almost the year through. We also have a large acreage of high, well drained cheap land in North Arkansas which fur nishes favorable conditions for the keeping of large f1ocks of sheep at a comparatively low cost. Arkansas men who have gone into the sheep business and followed it in an intelli- gent manner find that they are very profitable investment.
 First: They pick up a great deal of waste about the farm that other farm animals cannot utilize.
 Second: They clean up the weeds and cause grasses to grow where weed patches were before.
 Third: Sheep furnish quick returns. Ewes can be bred in the fall and their lambs marketed eight or ten months thereafter.
 Fourth: Profits are 1arge-it is usually considered that the wool will pay for the keep of the ewes and the lambs come as clear profit. Fifth: Sheep are good soil builders, sheep manure being the richest ma- ',ure produced by any farm animal. Sixth: They require little expen. 1 i've feed.
 Seventh: Money from sheep comes in in the spring at time of the year when few other products are being put upon the market.
 While the prospects for sheep grow ing look very good, the Extension Di. vision does not want to encourage anyone to take up this line of livestock i industry unless they have had pre- vious experience or have an honest desire to study and learn the nature and the requirements of sheep With out love for sheep and knowledge of the industry, little success can be expected.
 One of the main essentials in grow ing this class of animals is good pas ture. Permanent pasture should be established with orchard grass or Bermuda grass as a basis. In the northern section of the state orchard grass is better adapted to the soil and climate In the central and southern portion, Bermuda thrives best. With Bermu- da grass can also be mixed lespedeza which makes it's rankest growth dur ing tEe hot summer months, bur clov- er which thrives during the winter and white clover which begins it's growth early in the spring. Besides a permanent pasture temporary pas ture should also be provided.
 Size of Flocks: It is the opinion of sheep can be handled in the most eco nomical way with not less than fifty or sixty ewes as a unit. The advan- tage coming from this large number Is that it does not cost much more to fence, shelter and care for fifty or sixty ewes than it would a smaller number, and for this reason when the large numbers are handled the cost per eve is much less than when only few are carried in the flock. While it is true that experienced men can l handle most advantageously sheep in the number suggested, with the be- ginner it is no doubt best for him to start with eight or ten ewes and gradually increase his flock. Kind of Sheep: It is not we'll for the beginner to start with pure breds, but he should begin with good grades. i Perhaps the best place to secure these grades is from the Stock Yards Mar kets through some reliable commits 1 sion firm. The majority of the ewes upon the markets come from the western ranges and are for the most part of the Merino breed. These ewes, however, can be bred up quickly by using rams of the breed preferred. The lambs from Merino ewes and nut ton rams make rapid growth and sell we'll when placed on the market When giving an order for this stock it is we'll to write the commission man the breed of sheep which you pre- fer and caution him not to buy ewes l tkot oro t0o O1d Ouite q numhor Of