SHEEP RAISING FOR BEGINNERS. 5 



In the hillier sections of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, 

 and in the cut-OA~er timber regions of the Gulf States, there are also 

 large areas of comparatively cheap lands which furnish favorable 

 conditions for the keeping of large flocks of sheep at comparatively 

 low cost. Similar opportunities are found in the cut-over timber- 

 lands in Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, and Oregon. 



On the higher priced lands of the corn belt a profitable system of 

 sheep raising is being worked out along the lines followed on the 

 intensively farmed areas in England and Scotland. While land 

 values in this section are much higher on the acre basis than in the 

 regions above referred to, there is comparatively little difference in 

 the value of the amount of land required per head for sheep. While 

 few farms in this section are likely to be devoted exclusively to com- 

 mercial sheep raising, the different labor requirements for cattle 

 and swine make it desirable to keep at least 1 ewe to 2 acres. This 

 should add materially to the net income from the farm. 



On western irrigated farms there seems likely to be developed an 

 intensive sheep industry. The alfalfa and other forages produced 

 on these lands come nearer to being satisfactory as a sole ration 

 for sheep than for any other stock. The use of irrigated pastures 

 or the rotation of forages will provide excellent summer feed and at 

 the same time avoid the cost of labor for harvesting where there is 

 not an opportunity of using the open range or forest reserve for 

 grazing at that time of year. 



REQUIREMENTS FOR SHEEP RAISING. 



SOIL AND CLIMATE. 



Sheep are naturally the inhabitants of high and dry areas. They 

 thrive, however, on any except wet, swampy land. The fine-wool 

 breeds especially prefer drier lands, while one or two of the British 

 breeds are particularly adapted to lowlands. Sheep raising has been 

 successfully carried on in areas of tropical temperature with low 

 rainfall, but their rearing in high temperatures with a high rainfall 

 has not been fully demonstrated. 



PASTURE AND FEED. 



Sheep naturally graze over rather wide areas and seek a variety of 

 plants. This habit particularly adapts them to being kept in large 

 numbers on lands of sparse vegetation or furnishing a variety of 

 grasses or other plants. They do better on short and fine grasses than 

 on coarse or high feed. They will eat a good deal of brush and, if 

 confined to small areas, will do a fair job at cleaning up land. When 

 used in this way, or on land producing only brush, they can not be 

 expected to prove very satisfactory in the production of good lambs 

 or good wool. 



