The Clio messenger., 1918-08-30
FLOCK OF SHEEP
WILL HELP WOOL
Autumn Is Most Favorable Time
for Making Start, Says
Agricultural Department.
FLEECE NEEDED BY SOLDIER
Good Grade Ewes and Pure-Bred Ram
Are Best for Beginners-Consider
Glass Of Pasture and Feeds
Available.

Sheep husbandry on farms can do
much to relieve the threatened made
Quacy Of the wool production In the
start and care for new flock this
fall will have patriotic part In meet
ing the country's need for more wool
to equip our soldiers and sailors.
Late summer or early fall Is the
most favorable time to make start
in sheep raising. Ewes can be pro-
cured more readily at this time, and
when purchased can be kept on mead
ows grain stubble fields, or late-sown
forage crops, to get them In good con-
dition for breeding. Experience with
the ewes through fall and winter win
also render a beginner more capable
of attending to them at lambing time.
II Is seldom possible to buy any con-
siderable number Of bred ewes at rea-
sOnable prices.
Selection Of Stock.
The inexperienced sheep raiser
should begin with grade ewes Of the
best class available and a pure-bred
ram. The raising Of pure-bred rams
can best be undertaken by persons ex-
perienced In sheep raising. The selec-
tlon Of the type and breed of sheep
should be made by considering the
class of pasture and feeds available
and the general system Of farming to
be followed, along with the peculiari-
ties of the breeds and the conditions
and kind of feeding and management
for which each has been especially de-
veloped.
1t Is highly advantageous for all, or
a majority, of the farms in a neighbor-
hood, to keep the same breed Of sheep,
or at least to continue the use Of rams
of the same breed. After decision
has been made as to suitable breed,
the aim should be to obtain ewes that
are Individually good and that have as
many crosses as possible Of the breed
selected. With such a foundation and
the continuous use of good pure-bred
rams Of the same breed, the flock will
make continuous Improvement. In
looking for ewes Of desired types and
breeding 1t will often be found impos-
sible to get them near at home at a
reasonable price. Ewes from the West
ern ranges can be obtained directly
from a stockyard market. For the
most part the range ewes are Of
Merino breeding. First-class eve
lambs, and less often older stock bred
on the range and sired by rams Of the
down or long-wool breeds, are some
times obtainable. These, or even the
Merino ewes, furnish foundation for
the flock that can be quickly graded
up by using rams Of the breed pre-
ferred. The lambs from Merino ewes
and mutton rams grow well and sell
well IL well cared for, but the yield
is less than when ewes with some
mutton blood are used. The sheep
from the range are less often infest-
ed with internal parasites than are
farm sheep, and In the large shipments
there is opportunity for closer selec-
tiop.
Young Ewes Preferred.
Yearling or two-year-old ewes are
preferable to older stock. Ewes with
broken mouths"-that Is those that
have lost some Of their teeth as a re-
suit of aegean be purchased cheaper
than younger ones. but are not good
property for inexperienced sheep rails
ers.
In buying ewes, particularly those
from the range. It II desirable, when
possible, to examine the udders to see
that they are free from Jumps that
would prevent the ewes from being
mixers. II II necessary to guard also
ssninSt buying ewes that arc useless