Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1911 — Give Sheep a Place on the Fann [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Give Sheep a Place on the Fann

By H. E. ALLEN,

Indiana farmers are coming more and more to realize the importance of maintaining soil fertility and of renovating worn out fields. Commercial fertilizers have their place, but in no way are they able to take the place of well cared-for manures made by live stock. Knowing this the question arise? as to what kind of live stock is best suited to the conditions of the farm. So far cattle, either beef or dairy, have adjusted themselves to farm conditions all over the state. Hogs, too, are found on nearly every place. Not so with sheep, however. They are found on a relatively small number of farms as compared with either hogs or cattle. This is unfortunate because there are few farms hilly or level, fertile or Infertile, upon which a small flock of some one of the breeds will not thrive, and prove a benefit to the farm itself and a good source of Income to its owner. Sheep are able to fit themselves into , almost any condition and environment and. will often give generous returns where other classes of live stock would be a failure. No doubt many will say that sheep cannot be made profitable on high priced lands. To those who make this statement or believe in it, allow me to refer you to the large numbers of sheep kept on the richest farms in England. The tenants of many of these farms say that the rent could not be paid without the help of the flock. On the other hand, on the poorer, hilly farms, sheep are profitable just

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Purdue University School of Agriculture

to clear up the weeds and brush. They have proven to be the best scavengers of all domestic animals and it is also known that seeds eaten by sheep do not germinate which is more than can be said of other farm animals. There are farms in some sections of the state upon which a flock of sheep Would subsist with little more than the weeds and brush with which they are overrun, and would give double returns in wool and lambs for the privilege of doing the work. Sheep Are Profitable. The most practical question, however, is whether sheep are a profitable proposition. Although the business has its ups, and downs, like all other enterprises, it is a very bad time indeed when a small flock of say 10 to 25 ewes will not pay its way. Besides the benefit they give the farm by way of destroying weeds, and increasing the soil fertility, they will consqme a larger variety of feeds than other animals and yield a double income of lambs and wool. Some one once asked a Kansas farmer what he did to get rid of the weeds on the farm. He replied that he sold the weeds as mutton at 5 and 6 cents a pound. There need be no special provision made for taking care of a few head of sheep on the average farm, as they are able to take care of themselves If they have access to water and a good dry shelter. They require less labor and trouble than any other farm stock and it is safe to say that anyone can make money without drudgery from a small flock.

A Double Income, Wool and Lambs.