10 



The fourth question of the circular which asked for special reasons 

 why the number of sheep have been decreasing brought out quite a variety 

 of answers. The particular reasons advanced for the decrease in the 

 number of sheep are here given in the order of frequency with which 

 they were named by correspondents. 



(i) Lack of sufficient profits due to low price of mutton and wool, 

 or to the comparatively high prices for other kinds of stock or their 

 products, particularly dairy cattle and their products, together with bacon 

 hogs. 



(2) Losses caused by dogs killing, wounding or worrying sheep. 



(3) Lack of pasture due usually to the keeping of as much other stock 

 as the land will carry. 



The passing of a by-law by municipal township councils forbidding 

 pasturing of sheep on the public roads of the township is an important 

 factor in producing a shortage of pasture. A considerable number of 

 correspondents also claim that sheep foul pasture for other stock. 



(4) The difficulty of properly fencing sheep in. 



(5) Losses from disease and at lambing time. 



Not even the most enthusiastic advocate of sheep raising will deny 

 that the reasons given above have in the main caused the decrease in 

 the numbers of sheep. In spite of the handicap which is thus placed upon 

 the sheep industry the replies of correspondents indicate that instead of 

 34 per cent, of the farmers keeping an average flock of 13 breeding ewes 

 as at present there should be flocks of from 10 to 20 ewes on fully 75 per 

 cent, of the farms of Ontario. The contention is that there has been 

 lack of appreciation of the value of sheep on the farm. To a considerable 

 extent this has been brought about on account of the sheep being able 

 to get along with far less care and attention than other classes of stock. 



Correspondents state that while the lack of profits has been the prin- 

 cipal reason for a decrease in the numbers of sheep in the past, the profits 

 at the present time are such as to encourage more extensive breeding. 

 The truth of this statement will be recognized upon referring to table 

 IV., which gives the summary of correspondents' opinions of the com- 

 parative profits. 



In order to reduce the losses caused by dogs, the general opinion 

 is that the Act for the Protection of Sheep and to Impose a Tax on Dogs 

 should be revised. This matter will be dealt with in considering the 

 replies to question 8. 



Regarding the number of sheep that should be kept, the following 



correspondents are quoted : 



"The sheep industry is one of the most important that concerns the average 

 farmer in animal husbandry, especially those having rough and broken land 

 on their farms. Since the farm labor problem has become so serious, and the 

 grazing of more land advisable, sheep are about the best to help the farmer out 

 as they take little care in the winter and require the minimum storage of feed. 

 The greatest difficulty in sheep raising has been dogs, although the present law- 

 has been of great benefit. I do not think it is quite stringent enough." 



