The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-07
Pointers for Successfully
Raising Flock Is Given
by Prot. Willard.
ARE THREE ESSENTIALS
Correct Feed, Plenty Water
and Right Kind Shelter
Very Necessary.

Any farmer who has sheep on his
place will be interested in a new book
just issued by the Northern Pacific
railway entitled Feeding and Care of
Sheep" A copy has just reached This
office and contains much valuable in
formation for sheep raising.
Professor u. II. Willard, author is
an old-tim sheep man and his expe
riences are given to the men connected
with this important industry in this
locality The book just received is
profusely Illustrated, pictures showing
a number OF different breeds that thrive
in the northwest
Prices Attract.
Many farmers in the northwest who
have not heretofore kept sheep on their
farms are being attracted by the high
prices that prevail for wool and mutton
Indeed. 1t Is probably true that nothing
on the farm will pay a better return
for the investment of time and money
than small flock of ewes, provided
they are well cared for and fed On
the other hand, losses may occur about
as fast az in any farm investment
where the sheep are carelessly handled
and poorly fed. And not only this, but
fearful losses may occur by dogs and
wolves unless proper precautions are
taken to afford protection.
The movement to get more sheep on
our farms is a good one and should
mean a marked step forward in the
profitable development Of farms in the
cut-over forested regions and ON the
prairie farms. However, because small
ffocks have returned profits Of $50 To
200 per cent in cases that could be
cited, such profits should not be taken
as criterion for farms generally, par
ticularly where large fiocks are kept.
And because a flock of 10 sheep has
paid 100 to 200 per cent. il does not
follow even of well managed farms
that 100 sheep will mean ten times the
profit.
A small flock will make its living on
the average farm and hardly cost any
thing in actual outlay other than the
care and attention given it, Sheep are
natural cleaners, and will clean up a
great amount Of grain and forage that
would otherwise so to waste. They
will also clean out weeds from fences
and alleys, as well as from the grain
fields and meadows. In the pastures
brush and weeds that other stock will
generally pass by. If allowed TO rum
at will, they will generally thrive and
fatten and what they eat will be bare
" missed. They will. however. destroy
the garden and do much damage Ia
young crops, both of their owners and
neighbors. unless there Is the proper
amount and kind of fencing.
Feeds--hay.
HAY rightly used is valuable feed
for sheep. There is, however, great
difference in the feeding value of diff :
ferent kinds of hay. Glover and alt
ALA are among the best forage feeds
for sheep. In the forested districts
of Minnesota and Wisconsin clover can
and should be grown. On the prairie
lands of the Dakotas alfalfa may be
grown. Protein feeds are necessary for
the proper development Of unborn,
lambs. 1t is, therefore, IF the first i'm
portance that some kind Of legume hay
be fed 10 ewes during the win
ter
Grain.
Do not expect sheep to do tn" i'm
possible. Do not expect them to eat
wood Din timothy or wild hay), ano
put flesh on their bodies aud wool OF
their backs. If they have good bright
clover or alfalfa hay and enough of it
three to four pounds day. and wate
not in a lake or slough or river, bu
in a trough o. in buckets in the feed
ing yard-they should do we'll. How
ever, small ration OF grin such a.
oats cracked corn and bran if ever
only a few ounces i day to each sheep
will give splendid results.
Water.
One Of the cheapest feeds in th
world and one of the most nuCessur,
is water, and yet there are farmer
who systematically att nd to watering
their horses and cattle, but neglect /
furnish this important substance /
their sheep. Because sheep WILL if com
PEELED to do so, eat enough snow to kee
them alive, the idea has gained to
great prevalence that sheep do nc
need water This is serious mistal,
sheep should always have fresh waite
within their reach summer and win
ter. -
Sheep do not require expensi'
buildings for shelter. An open She
facing southwark is about the be-
shelter. This should be such thi
drafts OF cold air will not bio
through. Sheep are sensitive TO draf
O3 cead OR and are likely to take co
if they lie at night where dra
s4elkes them. They do not like war
qloaFtees. They are SO fully protects
~ their heavy covering of wool TIN
81 poodest winter temperatures do n