Meade County news., 1917-03-15
THERE'S MONEY
IN RAISING SHEEP
Growing Appetite for Mutton
Makes Sheep Advantageous
to Kansas Farmers
KANSAS CLIMATE IS FAVORABLE
A. M. Patterson, Agricultural College,
Manhattan, Kansas, Gives Ad-
vice as to Their Raising.

1t is unfortunate that state so well
adapted to the production of mutton
and wool as Kansas has so few sheep
within its borders and that the aver
age Kansas stockmRn has so persis
tently neglected this important and
profitable industry.
During recent years people are rap
idly learning to appreciate the fact
that lamb and mutton are the most
delicious, nutritious and healthful of
all meats. This growing appreciation
is creating an insistent demand.
which, coupled with decrease In pro-
duction, has made prices very high
and has opened new opportunities for
profitable sheep husbandry. on the
average Kansas farm Formerly sheep
production was largely a range indus
try but since the ranges have been so
materially reduced sheep production
Is becoming a farm proposition and
in the future will become more and
more a part of the activities of the
general farm.
Many people have the idea that
sheep are hard to care for and handle,
and while it is very true that sheep
have their peculiarities, there are
no secrets nor anything difficult in
the care and management of flock
of sheep. All that is needed is an
exercise of patience, perseverance and
good judgment
Kansas with her dry, open winters,
abundance of roughage and splendid
markets. has a decided advantage in
this business and the average farm
would be much benefited by flock
Of sheep which could turn waste prod
ucts into cash, thus saving feeds of
commercial value and at the same
time increasing the fertility of the
soil
Sheep produce two crops annually,
wool in the spring and lambs in the
fall, and if the animal is properly
cared for the income from the wool
will almost pay for the ewes keep.
Their value as builders up of the soil
should not be overlooked and a great
many farms that have been cropped
year after year are rapidly losing
their productiveness and there is no
class of live stock so we'll adapted to
building up of the soil as sheep. Their
droppings are extremely rich and are
scattered over the fields in manner
(which neither man or machine can
| duplicate.
Sheep are noted as scavengers; as
week exterminators they have no
equal. In this section OF the country
there are nearly 500 kinds of weeds.
and sheep will eat about 575. while
cattle and horses will eat only about
IS. Not only will sheep rid the fields
Of these pests but will turn them into
marketable product and return the
fertility of the soil to the land in the
form of manure. Most farms have
feed lots and yards which annually
grow up to weeds which are very un-
slightly. By sowing rape in these
places and pasturing sheep on 1t, the
appearance of the farm will be much
improved and it will be the means
of making good meat. which means a.
larger bank account. Road-sides,
lanes and fence corners may also be
kept clean and tidy by the use of
flock Of sheep.
The belief that sheep cannot be pas
| tured with other live stock is mis-
take; where grass is abundant they
will Craze together very nicely, and
sheep will eat the plants that the
other stock leave which tends to give
the pacture a cleaner appearance.
When a man is thinking of going
into the sheep business he should take
an inventory of himself and find out
what he knows about sheep and be-
gin gathering all the information
possible.
The next thing is to determine how
many to get; this will depend entirely
upon his business condition and the
amount of material wasted annually
that could be utilized by sheep.
Whether grade or purebred sheep is
to be raised should depend upon the
knowledge the person has OF the sheep
business. For one who has had no
experience, it is best to buy good
grade western ewes and purebred
ram. After obtaining some experience
and he finds he likes the sheep busi-
ness, the purebreds may be purchased.
When planning to raise purebreds it
is we'll to make a study of the differ
ent breeds; their origin and environ
ment and select, the breed best adapt
ed to your conditions. Careful study
of market conditions should be made
In order to realize The greatest profit.