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 msurance 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 mexpensive-: 
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 volicy 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 
