Although the value of sheep manure per head, annually, is not as 

 :at as that of cattle, horses or swine, its value per ton is greater be- 

 cause of its higher nitrogen and potassium content, and its lower 

 moisture content. 



Sheep as Weed Destroyers. 



Sheep consume more weeds than any other class of live stock, 

 | except goats. It is estimated that sheep will eat 90 per cent, of all 

 troublesome weeds. 11 They will destroy weeds in pastures, in grain 

 fields and corn fields after harvesting, and clear the fence rows. How- 

 ever, sheep are not scavengers to the extent that they can thrive on 

 refuse and weeds alone. In order to get sheep to consume leaves on 

 shrubs, the tenderer grasses must be scarce. Goats are better adapted 

 to clearing brush land than are sheep. Some farmers consider sheep 

 cessary as an economical means of controlling weeds. 



The Sheep's Place on the Farm. 



It is the specialist only who should engage in sheep raising as 

 his main farming enterprise, but a medium-sized flock is invariably 

 suited to conditions on an average farm. Sheep require relatively 

 little labor, the greatest amount being required during lambing time, 

 which is generally in March, a month when the average farmer wants 

 employment for his labor. Buildings may be erected cheaper than for 

 any other class of live stock. Rough feeds that are wasted and weeds 

 that are a nuisance are utilized and made into marketable products 

 of mutton and wool, and sheep may be slaughtered so as to provide 

 fresh meat at any season of the year. The following quotation is taken 

 from the United States Farmer's Bulletin No. 526: "Judged by its 

 composition, palatability, wholesomeness, digestibility, relative cost, 

 and the number of ways in which it can be prepared for the home 

 table, mutton is an important food stuff, which is well worth the at- 

 tention of the housekeeper who wishes to provide her family with an 

 attractive and palatable diet at a reasonable cost." Breeding sheep are 

 relatively cheap, and two cash crops, one of mutton and the other of 

 wool, are raised annually. 



Obstacles to Sheep Raising. 



One of the greatest obstacles to sheep raising is the lack of know- 

 ledge and interest in the proper care and management of the flock. 

 The labor required in caring for the flock is relatively small, but at 



n U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 20, 1913. 



7 



