Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-08
Sheep Are Now 4 Most Profitable
Enteepriso.

Z. A glance at the statistics shows
that North Dakota hasS25o 900 Ahalp
on the $1,000 farms in.thk. state This
means one sheep to evsry 100 acres,
and indicates that there Is plenty OF
room for the sheep we already have.
and q great many more South ID e
'kota has $4,000, Montana 4,sS1,o0o
900 and Ohio 2,944, 900.
/ 1t is gratifying to know that in
terest in sheep has very greatly in
creased in the past few years, and
that there are many farmers hand
ling small flocks, whoa few years ago
would not have considered q venture
of this kind. IN .fg
There is perhaps no class Of live
stock that will give better returns for
sheep. In fact, it can be said that 9
small band of SO to $50 could be kept
on nearly every farm, and the .addt-
tional feed and. care required would
haydly be noticed; but the income
would be very substantial and also
the benefit the farnt would receive
from these sheep would be almost in
calculable. ,
More Dogs Than Sheep.
I. While 1t is hard to get late statis-
tics, it has been found true Of many
Of the central states, that they have
more dogs than sheep. and a great
many farmers will give as a reason
for not having sheep that there are
too many dogs. One speaker in call
ing attention to this matter, said that
$on most farms the only reason Tor
keeping a dog was that they must en-
joy the dogs society. and for his part
he believed he would rather associate
with q sheep.
While it is true that a great many
have an idea that sheep are hard to
handle, and require a great deal col
attention. these difficulties are mostly
fancied. A sheep may have some. pc.
culiarities that must be learned and
considered in his successful handling
There is no class of live stock that
can be handled successfully without
some special consideration, and 1t II
as true Of the sheep. that those who
give the subject the most careful
succeed best with them.
Sheep Adapted to, the Northern
Countries, ~
Because of the fact that the sheer
are wonderfully protected, for resist
ing cold, they are especially adapted
to northern sections, and the fact tina
sheep will require much less water
than any other farm animal alst
makes them desirable in many sec
tons where water is hard to obtain
While sheep should have plenty o
water. especially in summer time, ant
in the winter, they will use a YER!
small amount as compared with othel
farm animals. Ir
More Mutton Being Eaten.
There was a time when the people
of the United States could NOT hav,
been considered as mutton callers, bu'
Because Of the tact that other meat
have advanced in price, until the!
are. almost. out Of the, reach Of many
has left a place for mutton, and tn,
people who have tried it have found
1T good, and there is o being con.
sumed q larger and larger amount O
mutton annually. y
The keeping Of a few sheep o,
every farm is especially desirable be
cause of the fact that the carcass l,
small and can be consumed in a few
at almost any time to supply fresl
meat.
In, reports from the Department o,
Agriculture, from across the line IL
Canadaj we see, a great stress befnl
laid on the fact that SO few sheep ar,
raised. In fact it fs necessary for
great deal of mutton to be imported
from far away Australia and New
Zealand. to supply the demand To-
this article. while there. Is feed TO
millions Of sheep going to waste OF
1.-The farms Of the northwest ever.
year. q
It Is not because the land in thi
region is too valuable. or the clmat,
and other environments not suitabl,