SHEEP RAISING. 



9 



farms, although this does not represent their limit of usefulness. The 

 breeds of this class are generally adapted to the conditions of this 

 State, however, in the mountains Merinos are quite largely used. 



The long wool type includes the large breeds having long and rather 

 coarse and open fleeces. They have not been used in the south to any 

 considerable extent, as large breeds would not do well either in the 

 rough mountainous section or even on level farms where pasture was 

 not naturally available. 



FIG. 2 A Southdown ewe from the mountainous section. 



Of the breeds mentioned the Shropshires, Southdowns, Hampshires, 

 Dorset Horns and Merinos are most popular in the State. They are all 

 of medium weight and are good mutton producers with the exception of 

 the Merinos which are used somewhat in the mountains of the State 

 where the range conditions makes them of special value owing to the 

 close, compact nature of their wool. Full or half-breeds of this type, 

 especially when bred to rams of the mutton type, produce excellent 

 lambs. This practice is followed very largely on the large sheep ranges 

 of the west. 



Feeds for Sheep. 



In England and Scotland, in fact in most foreign countries, the 

 ration of the flock is composed primarily of coarse feeds except during 

 the lambing season and during the latter stages of pregnancy. Many 

 of the rough feeds produced on the farm and the common weeds which 

 infest the fields will be eaten readily by sheep. Hay, especially that 

 made from the legumes, is well suited to them. Leguminous hay with 

 the addition of concentrates in small quantities will carry a flock of 

 ewes through the winter. Corn silage and annual pasture crops are all 

 valuable. 



The concentrates ordinarily used for sheep are corn, oats, soy beans, 

 wheat bran, linseed meal and cottonseed meal. While the latter feed 



