The Ozark spectator., 1917-01-03
GROWING ANIMALS ON THE
 FARM
No. 7. Sheep and Goat Raisino.

oneeP ana Goat Raising. By Ii. E. Dvorachek, Professor of Ami.
 nal Husbandry, University
 of Arkansas
 A recent report from the Bureau or Animal Industry of the U. S. De. partment of Agriculture shows that the sheep industry has been or 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 l2 cents per pound this year. ana 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 rom the Southwest to Kansas City have found ready sale as mutton at fair prices where they reached the market in good condition. It 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 sort of scavenger on the farm Keeping down weeds in pastures and on the farm in general It is not uncommon to see well established pas 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 were crowded out. A few Sheep would have saved such pasture ana made mutton and wool in doing so. The goat, on the other hand, is at Its best among the brush and hriars with which our Ozark hills are abhndantly 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- s'd@'ed as scavanger it is not best to treat 1t as such and make it depend upon what it can find in the way of weeds for 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 fleece which at 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 to profits.
 The goat, especially the Angora. is essentially a browser, although after being used for time on brush it has been found that they gradually take to grass and neglect sprouts. Where 1t 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 se- }ected as they have proven more oe- structive to the underbrush than old brushes especially if there is any grass growing on the land. One year of brushing with goats Is not sulI,- 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 q 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 1t is superior to mutton. especial. ly 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 higher price per pound than wool. This mohair. as it is called, when of good quality sells at several times the price pasi for wool. It is true, how. eyer that the weight of average tleeces is less than that of wool ileeces, As producer of meat and
 
 mohair, and as valuable help in brushing land, the Angora goat should prove a profitable animal in a large part of Arkansas.
 The greatest drawback to the sheep and goat raising seems to be the 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, or at least made 1t possible to put such dogs out of the way. Such a law has tendency to stimulate interest m the venture as fear of losses is part ly overcome, and loss oan actually be reduced.
 It Is the opinion of some that dis. tn oh