Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-22

| the Sheep maintained, particularly III
the eastern part of the United
farms, say of 100 to 200 acres. In
most instances the focks did not
contain more t IN 10 to Is ewes.
Most farmers maintain what are
known as dual or general purpose
sheep. That is, they are valuable
and wool, in contradistinCtion to the
/ aintenance of those breeds prima-
| rily regarded as valuable for wool
| production, such as the Rambouil let
and Merino. AS to the practice fol-
| lowed by most of these farmers in
! that many of them sold their lambs
soon after weaving. This, Of course,
is an established practice in most
sections of the south where sheep
raising has been followed to any
J appreciate extent The farmers of
have long followed this practice. OF
course, in semi or non-Cotton produce
ing states there is an impression
| that sheep raising can be made much
more profitable than farther south.
This idea is based on the large graz
ing areas which the states mentioned
possess, but substitute rations and
forage crops are easily obtainable in
all the southeastern states and will
be found as satisfactory and as eco
nomical in maintaining ewes and
producing lambs of sufficient weight
to be sold shortly after weaving at
a satisfactory profit. This is the
type of sheep raising we believe to
be most desirable and profitable here
in the south, and it is indeed en-
couraging news to hear that there
was some appreciate increase in the
number of ewes maintained last year
and lambs raised therefrom.
In thoSp SnotiOnc wbnrn ap0h ais
ing has been successfully emphasize
ed corn and oats are the grains chief
ly fed, Here in the south we can,
of course, have both of these grains
to a considerable extent, but provided
we did not possess them at all vel
vet bean meal or peanut meal fed
singly or in proper combination with
such satisfactory winter and spring
grazing as may be derived from oats,
rye and barley sown singly or in
combination with Vetch and Grim
son clover, will produce the finest
kind of ration for the maintenance
of ewes and their offspring. 1t is,
of course, desirable to add corn and
oats to such a ration and we are in
position to do this Wheat bran and
cottonseed meal can also be used to
advantage, though the latter should
not be used previous to the period
of parturition, nor in any consider
able quantities to young lambs until
some considerable time after they
have learned to eat Of the forms
of roughage to use in what may be
termed the lambs growing days,
clover hay and alfalfa occupy first
position. Even in this section, how
ever, great quantities of straw and
fodder such as is obtained from corn
are largely used. Hay made from
the mixed grasses is also extensive
fed. Here in the south we may grow
alfalfa in sufficient quantities to
provide enough hay for grazing for
toned. In it's absence we may make
hay from any of the cereals men
toned above SOWn Singly or in COM
bination with legumes Excellent
hay may also be made from cow
peas, soy beans and velvet beans
grown singly or preferably in COM
bination with corn, sorghum. or KAT
fir corn. These crops may be soWn
in drills and large stalks produced.
Their palatability will be added to
after they are properly cured ii they
are run through a cutting box. On
the other hand, sorghum, kaffir corn
and millet may be soWn either Slngly
or in combination with legumeS IN
manner which will insure the stalks
being small and fine and, therefore,
very palatable to the mother ewes.
Silage can also be used to some ad-
vantage and we can make that as
and abundantly on southern
farms as it can be produced in any
other section of the United States.
There is no reason why silage should
produce death or dysentery in the
flock unless it is fed in mouldy
condition and IN excessive amounts.
AS to the cost of maintaining the
eve under proper conditions and
management, this should not exceed
say IS. This means not only the
feeding of the eve, but also her
lamb until it is sufficiently mature
which are properly fed and handled
will average more than one lamb per
season. Under the best of man
agement two can often be raised.
Even if only one is raised. when
the value of the fleece is taken into
consideration a return of at least
$40 per acre is not unreasonable.
AS to the method of management
to follow, sheep and lambs should
be kept out in the open as much
as possible and provided with the
greater part of their feeding through
Course, have shelters to protect
them from cold, sudden changes in
the weather, and from the heavy
rains which frequently fall at Ger
tain seasons of the year here in the
South. The shelters needed, how
ever, Will HOT NC SApClloINO iOl I'll
fcult to provide. In fact, there are
facilities on many farms which could
be used for this purpose with a high
degree of satisfaction.
If the foregoing facts present a
reasonable view of the situation, it
seems strange that we do not estab-
fish large ocks of sheep on every
farm here in the south. The prin,
| cipal drawback to the establishment
of this industry in some measure
| commensurate with our local and ma
| tional needs is in some sense respon-
sible to the cur dog. A good dog
| is a fine institution, a true friend
| to man and an animal worth taking
care of and protectinr. The cur dog
is a menace and a nuisance and
! should be ruthlessly destroyed. We
stand at the parting of the way
with reference to this matter not
only in the south, but in many other
parts of the United States. We must
| choose between the worthless cur anC