CHAPTER XXVIII 

 SHEEP 



THE raising of sheep has never received the attention it 

 deserves in most regions. There are at present only a 

 little more than fifty million sheep on the farms of the 

 United States. Almost sixty per cent, of our sheep are found 

 in ten states, seven of which are in the far West, one in the 

 South, and only two in the middle and eastern states. Ac- 

 cording to their importance in sheep raising, these states 

 are: Montana, Wyoming, Ohio, New Mexico, Idaho, Ore- 

 gon, California, Michigan, Texas and Utah. Other states 

 having important sheep interests are Missouri, Indiana, 

 Kentucky, Iowa and Illinois. 



1. Importance of Sheep on the Farm 



Sheep could be raised with good profit on thousands of 

 farms where they are now unknown. They are among the 

 most hardy of the domestic animals, and will thrive in al- 

 most every part of the country. 



Sheep as foragers. Sheep have no equal among the 

 farm animals as foragers. They will eat a wide range of 

 roughage, much of which is not of value to other stock. 

 Certain weeds not palatable to most animals are eaten by 

 sheep, and they therefore aid in keeping pastures, meadows 

 and fields clean. Sheep will graze steep hillsides not acces- 

 sible to horses or cattle, and will feed from the foliage 

 and twigs of brushland pastures. They find a good living 



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