420 AGRICULTURE 



Their heavy coats enable sheep to live in relatively open 

 sheds in the winter, providing they are kept dry. The cost 

 of shelter is therefore low. 



One of the chief practical difficulties in sheep raising 

 is that the fences suitable for horses and cattle will not 

 hold sheep. The present tendency, however, is to build 

 closer fences, so that fields will be available for both hogs 

 and sheep. In some regions serious loss of sheep occurs 

 from vicious dogs, wolves and coyotes. Sheep-killing dogs 

 should be relentlessly shot. 



Sheep bring quick returns. Sheep are almost as good 

 as poultry for quick returns. For ordinary farm purposes 

 dual purpose breeds are usually selected to produce both 

 wool and mutton. In this way a double yield can be se- 

 cured fleeces from all the flock, and either lambs or mut- 

 ton in addition. 



It is estimated that the fleece from good sheep should 

 pay for their feed, thereby leaving the lambs raised or the 

 mutton produced as profit. Lambs are ready for market at 

 from seven to twelve months of age, thus allowing the 

 money invested in them to be turned quickly. 



2. Breeds of Sheep 



Sheep, like cattle, are kept for two purposes. Just as 

 cattle include both the beef and the dairy breeds, so sheep 

 comprise mutton breeds and merino, or wool, breeds. 



Mutton breeds. Mutton breeds of sheep correspond 

 to beef breeds of cattle their forms must be such as to 

 yield the best results on the butchers' block, and they must 

 be able to change their feed profitably into mutton. 



Mutton breeds are divided into two classes in accordance 

 with the length of their wool: (1) medium wool, or down 

 type, of which there are eight different breeds ; and (2) 

 long wool, of which there are three breeds. 



