Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-20
LAMB AND WOOL PROFITS;
MONEY IN SHEEP RAISING
urat Homo OF Shcep-Thcy
Prosper I'm This state.
SPRING LAMB BUSINESS GOOD
worId-N Wide Wool 'Shortagc.-Amcr.
ica's Share Of IL 100,0O0,O00
Pounds-Now Is Time to Boost
Sheep Industry.


Sheep Industry.
Southern Field. published by tho
Southern Railway. has been invcstiEat
ing tho shcep-raisinE industry and tho
prospects for its enlargement IN tho
states through which that line Of rail
way runs. \ list of questions sub
1nittcd to wcll-known farmers III that
territory brought forth mapy-too
rneny-rcpics 10 tho effect that tho
writer's raised no sheep. About 100
came from successful growers OF tho
wool-hcarins animals. Something like
p dozen Of these replies were sent lip
from Virginia.
The inquiries were sent gu. fvr The
purpose OF obtaining information of
the reliable and practical kind on the
length of experience in sheep raising.
number OF sheep kept, and tho br'.ei,
what shelter is given in winter, and
for how long: how and on what The
sheep arc fed average wool clip per
head and price whom marketed; the
average weight Of lambs sold. usual
prices secured. where sold on where
shipped TO and about what date spring
lambs arc sold what drawbacks rr III
hcultics are experienced in the bust
raising for The Southern farm.
The Virginia writer's were erph"tic
in their Endorsement Of the proposition
that Virginia is the best place under
the stars for profitable sheep raiSii :.
and that because OF its climatic ana
other advantages. The only drawback
TO the industry mentioned by the Viz
Snians is the cur dog. and that is
not as bad it WAS a few years aSo.
SOME LEADING FACTS ABOUT
THE PR0lIvABiE INDUSTRY
From all sections Of Virginia i is
shown that sheep require very li.tl"
shcltcr in winter, nothing moro than
an inexpensive open sh"d closed on
three sides to protect them from the
Wind In many instances they thrive
by being allowed 10 run at large all
the year round. with the exception that
protection from storms is provided FOR
thee ewes IN lambing time.
Regarding feed for sheep in winter.
The replies show that in some instances
no feed is given at all, but that s.@n-
orally for two or three months they
arc given a little cnsilaSc, cot,onSecd.
Cottousccd meal, oats. Shcllcd corn,
alfalfa hay. velvet beans. ctc., ;,b,u.
quart Of cotton,ced meal daily b"inS
sections of the South. as soon a. Tho
winter grazing crops, such as rye md
wheat. Vctch or bur clover, are road,
The sheep require no other feed. SO
that the only period during which iced
has TO be supplied Is that between the
time the fall pastures have given cut
and tho winter pastures come in.
Sheep will cat amy Kind oC hay raised
in the south
Replies show WOOL clips Of from
three to fifteen pounds per head pcr
flock. In Virginia the lowest clip re-
ported by any Of the writers was four
pounds. and the highest twelve pounds.
with about s!X pounds as the average.
PAYS TO GROW SPRING
LAMBS IN VIRGINIA
The raising Of spring lambs is per
haps the principal and most profitable
factor in the sheep industry III most
sections OF the South, though there
arc some regions where the local mar
kets take good quantities OF mutton
AT highly profitable prices The cities
or the South. such as Richmond, Nor
folk. atlanta, birmingham and others.
offer good markets for spring lambs.
The Northern markets absorb all tho
Southern grown lambs they can get
and the supply can he greatly in
creased TO tho advantage If tho farmer
This branch OF farming offers ono OF
the hes, side iuos for the present
farmer III tho" SOUTH or for the North-
ern man whq w. l"1at" on Southern
farm
Spriue lambs so North in largo guam
titles from Virginia and Tennessee. in
lesser numbers from North and South