Sheep Breeders' Association. 363 



A BOY WITH A FEW SHEEP. 



(Hon. J. W. Boles, Auxvasse, Mo.) 



When Governor Colman delivered his able speech yesterday 

 on teaching boys how to tell what they know, I was very much 

 impressed with the importance of people being anxious to tell 

 others their experiences wherein they have been successful. 



When I received word that I was to give a talk on this sub- 

 ject, I wrote an inquiry to one of my county papers, asking those 

 who had handled a few sheep to give me their experience as to 

 their success or failure. I got a few answers to my inquiry. From 

 the information that I have gathered I conclude that a larger per 

 cent, is made on a little money invested in a few sheep than in 

 any other kind of live stock. 



We handle stock because we like it, and for the money there 

 is in it. It is hard to succeed in a business that we do not like; 

 so it is very necessary that we choose a vocation that we like, 

 and then go after it with the determination to succeed. If you 

 can handle sheep and will take care of them, they will make you 

 good money, and do your farm good, I have given the sheep busi- 

 ness my special attention for fourteen years, and have had the 

 experience of many who have handled them. I find that a large 

 majority of them have made a hundred per cent, or more, annually. 

 The expense of one cow is equal to that of about eight sheep. A 

 forty dollar cow will raise you a twelve to twenty dollar calf each 

 year. Eight five dollar ewes will raise you forty dollars worth of 

 wool and lambs, annually. The cow makes you thirty to forty per 

 cent., while the sheep make a hundred per cent. A hundred dollar 

 mare will raise a thirty to forty dollar colt, making from thirty 

 to forty per cent. A two hundred dollar mare will raise a colt 

 worth from sixty to one hundred dollars, the same per cent, as 

 above. A seventy-five to one hundred dollar pure bred cow will 

 raise a thirty-five to seventy-five dollar calf. Eight twenty-five 

 dollar pure bred ewes will raise eight twenty to thirty dollar lambs, 

 all sold as yearlings, and the ewes making from eighty-five to one 

 hundred and twenty per cent. The higher grade the stock, the 

 more money you make. The cost of keeping of the above stock is 

 about equal. A good sow will come nearer making as great a per 

 cent, as the same amount of money invested in sheep, but will cost 

 more and is not so nice to handle. Sheep will eat the weeds on 

 the farm and clean it up generally and make a good sod. Broken 

 or hilly land is better for sheep than for any other stock. 



