Sheep; Its History, Breeding, Production 21 



clothing. What other animal or product offers so much and meets so 

 great a need? Yes, Mr. Sheepman, your goods will be needed, and you 

 can rightly expect good prices for them. Of course prices are sure to 

 conform to a certain extent to those received for other commodities. 

 Competition in business is sure to be keen, and the most successful in 

 any business will be those who can produce the best quality at the low- 

 est possible cost. 



Sheep and High Priced Land 



We hear some talk of land being too high for raising sheep. This 

 is a false idea, and is contradicted emphatically by the facts. England, 

 with land ranging from $500 to $2,000 per acre, is forced to raise sheep 

 because of her high priced land. She produces several times as many 

 sheep per acre as we do, and much better ones. Small farmers especially 

 should grow more roots, as greater yields can be obtained per acre in 

 this way. (See methods of British farmers, in chapter on dry lot 

 feeding. ) 



Rationing Simplified 



The rationing of feed to sheep or lambs is one of the biggest prob- 

 lems for the laymen, but it is not so difficult. There is a method to be 

 pursued by the inexperienced sheep feeder that is pretty safe, and he 

 had better follow it until he becomes an expert, and is able to detect any 

 irregularities among his sheep, caused by improper feeding. An abund- 

 ance of roughage should be kept before the sheep, such as clover or 

 alfalfa hay or grasses. If sheep or lambs have access to all the good, 

 clean, dry . roughage they can eat, they will do their own rationing. 

 Great care should always be exercised in starting sheep on feed. (See 

 chapter on dry lot feeding.) 



Experience of lowra Farmer 



A little story told me the other day exemplifies my theory quite well, 

 so I will relate it here. A friend of mine was called to see some sheep 

 in Iowa. They were yearling wethers, running in a corn field, a nice lot 

 of stuflf which had been doing fine, but at that time were dying fast. 

 The farmer was very much alarmed, and said : "I can't understand this 

 at all. Thev are getting good water and salt, and are running in the 

 same field they were put in when I got them." My friend said: "I 

 can tell you mighty quick where the trouble lies. This is big corn, the 

 ears are well up on the stalk, the corn blades are all gone, as well as the 

 grass, weeds and everything else, with the exception of the corn. All 

 these sheep have to eat is corn, and it is killing them. Do those clover 

 hay stacks in the adjoining field belong to you ?" "Yes," was the answer. 

 "Then," said my friend, "haul some of it out where these sheep can have 

 all they want of it, and you vnll have no more loss," and he did not. 



Beginners and Their Responsibilities 



In starting beginners in the business, it is always my policy to 

 impress them with the importance of their responsibilities. I have 



