Sharp County record., 1917-12-21
ARKANSAS SHOULD
HAVE MORE SHEEP
During 1916 the United States Raised
Only 35 Per Cent of Wool
She Used.
By ]. H. Mcleod, Senior Livestock
Specialist, Extension Division, Uni.
versity Of Arkansas.

Specialist, Extension Division, Uni
versity Of Arkansas.
Arkansas should have more sheep.
The need Of raising more sheep is ap-
parent from the fact that in 1915 the
United States raised only 35 per cent
of the wool she used, There has been
a very large increase in the demand
for mutton to feed the millions OF
men who are now on the European
front, and 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 a 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 large
acreage Of high, we'll drained cheap
land in North Arkansas which fur
nishes favorable conditions for the
keeping of large flocks 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 a very
profitable investment.
First: They pick up q 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 large-lt 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
nure produced by any farm animal.
Sixth: They require little expen-
sive 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
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 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 Bermp
da grass can also be mixed lespedeza
which makes It's rankest growth dur.
ing the hot summer months, bur cloy-
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 bo provided.
Size Of Flocks! II Is the opinion Of
the most competent authorities that
sheep can be handled In the most eco.
nomical way with not loss than fifty
or Sixty ewes as unit The adYan.
tage coming from this largo number
Is that II does not cost much more
to fence, shelter and care for Atty or
sixty ewes than II would q smaller
number, and for this reason when the
large numbers are handled tho cost
per eve Is much less than when only
q few are carried In the flock, While
II 10 true that experienced men can
handle most advantagoously sheep In
the number suggested, with the bo.
ginner Il Ia no doubt best for him 10
start with eight or ten ewes and
gradually increase his flock.
Kind Of Sheep; II Is not well for
tho beginner to start with pure bredo,
but ho should begin with good grades.
Perhaps the best place to secure these
grades Is from tho Stock Yards Mar.
kots through some reliable commits.
sion firm, The majority OF the owes
upon the markets como from tho
western ranges and are for tho moat
part OF the MerIno breed, These ewes,
however, can be bred up quickly by
using rams OF the breed preferred.
Tho lambs from Mcrino ewes and NUT.
ton rams make rapid growth and
sell well when placed on the market,
When giving IN order for this stock
1t Is well to write the commission