Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1876 — Sheep Farming. [ARTICLE]

Sheep Farming.

A Western farmer whose experience in stock raising has not been very satisfactory asks our opinion in regard to the profit of sheep. We formerly had some experience in sheep-raising, and never failed to find it a source of profit. When to the value of the mutton and the wool is added that of the manure (which is too often overlooked), it seems impossible that sheep, farming should fail to pay, and pay well. But we have generally found that those make mutton the first object, and regard the wool as subordinate, are the most successful. Yet this, after all, must depend in some measure upon location. The method successfully followed for many years by John Johnston, of Geneva, is to raise com, barley, oats, wheat and hay, and purchase sheep in the fall to feed up the various products raised, and fatten them for the market. In this way manures were secured, and a greater profit realized for the products raised on the farm than if sold at market prices. His sheep were fed twice a day, at first half a pound each in the morning early, and again at four o’clock p. m. After a while the feed is gradually increased to a pound of grain per day. Straw or hay is fed three times a day, the straw mostly during the first part of the fattening season, and the hay for finishing off. Oil meal is also used for feeding when it can be obtained at reasonable rates. He maintains that no animal will take on fat as rapidly as sheep if they are in fair condition to begin with. —Christian Union.