﻿50* BULLETIN 20, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



•METHODS OF REDUCING COST OF MAINTENANCE. 



By having the sheep barn conveniently arranged, and by having 

 all necessary equipment, such as hurdles, lots, and chutes, the labor 

 cost can be reduced. It can also be lowered by having the largest 

 flock the conditions will permit. 



By growing on the farm most of the feed, especially the most 

 expensive part of it, and by raising crops that will yield highest, the 

 cost of feed can be lowered. Sheep farming rarely pays where a large 

 part of the feed must be bought. Depreciation on the equipment 

 and the flock can be controlled to a certain' extent. Keeping the 

 barns, sheds, and lots in good order lessens this item. Repairing 

 done immediately is far less expensive than when it is delayed. The 

 depreciation of the flock depends more or less upon the care it gets. 

 The best management will reduce this considerably. The ordinary 

 loss from mortality can also be reduced by the best care and manage- 

 ment. 



Interest upon the investment,- taxes, and insurance are practically 

 fixed charges. Making the investment as low as possible and securing 

 the most favorable rates of interest and insurance are reductions 

 that may be practiced. 



It is not necessary to have expensive sheep buildings. As men- 

 tioned before, sheds can be made to serve the purpose excellently, 

 and as good results can often be secured with them as with more 

 pretentious structures. Quite often unoccupied portions of the barn 

 or vacant sheds can be made ready for sheep at a small cost, thus 

 further reducing expenses. It is well to start out with inexpensive 

 buildings, then if the flock warrants it these can be replaced with 

 better ones. 



While it is desirable to reduce the cost of maintenance in the ways 

 enumerated above, it does not pay to sacrifice anything essential to 

 continued development of the flock. It is poor oolicy to reduce this 

 cost at the expense of health or productivity. 



CONSUMPTION OF MUTTON ON THE FARM. 



MUTTON NOT FULLY APPRECIATED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Mutton never has been as highly appreciated in America as it 

 should be. Probably one reason for this has been the supply of 

 cheap beef that this country has enjoyed up to the past few years.. 

 The days of cheap beef are over, however, and it is necessary that 

 some substitute for it be found. Mutton is the logical solution of 

 the problem. It is true that the people will have to be educated 

 more thoroughly as to its value, but mutton is now more in favor as 

 a food than it used to be. A particular class of American people who 

 have underrated mutton are the farmers, many of whom keep a 



