Show farrl mm now no L I 1 U RAISING SHEEP ON diversified FARM there are three systems of sheep in management ana gement in the united states 1 running sheep in large bands banda on the range 2 keeping small flocks on the firms farms 8 3 fattening of range sheep the second and third are farm enterprises terp rises the third Is often more or less a speculative business but the second keeping a flock on the farm may well be considered a permanent part of diversified farm business sheep fit well into a system of farming because of the small investment required the quick returns their habits of feeding their benefit to the id and their two way cash crop it Is usually considered that sheep can bo be purchased cheaply in comparison with other live stock at present prices however an animal unit of sheep seven ewes la Is not so much lower in price than in other classes of live stock the investment for shelter need not he be large as expensive bar barns are not necessary the fleece of the sheep will prevent it from suffering from cold if it Is kept try dry and given a windbreak proper fencing will be the greatest investment ne necessary celli it should never be but bia a few months after sheep are purchased until a cash crop muy may be sold either wool or lambs either one of which will return a considerable part of the purchase price A very large part of the feed for or sheep should be roughage this makes it possible to utilize large quantities of grain that would otherwise have very little value they can also graze profitably on waste lands fields meadows lunes lanes and rodd roadways ways sheep benefit the land upon which they run in two ways by keeping down weeds find and by increasing the fertility their value to soil sell fertility has been so generally recognized that they have been called the golden hoof they have an advantage over other common classes of farm live stock because their lighter weight does not pack the soil and also because their droppings are distributed to much better advantage |