SHEEP ON THE FARM.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 449, 20 March 1912, Page 7

SHEEP ON THE FARM.

By F. Stone, in the Journal of Agriculture, S. A-ust.

"With high prices ruling for sheep and wool of late years, farmers have been keeping a few sheep. This is very profitable, as a few sheep entail little trouble compared with the profits. The meat supply is a large item on the farm, and by judicious management a small flock of sheep should easily provide this want. The most favoured breed in this district is the Merino. The wool from this class of sheep meets with a ready sale, while they are also quiet, and do not, as a rule, trouble the fences —a big factor on a farm where they are allowed to graze in paddocks adjoining wheat crops. In wiutci months sheep can be kept on land which is intended for fallow, and feed which would otherwise be wasted can lie turned to prifltable account. This also makes fallowing easier, and tends to make a better job than if the land is overgrown with weeds. Later on sheep can be utilised to keep the fallow clean, thus saving much labour. In summer stubble land provides good pasture, especially if a crop has suffered from stormy weather. A good deal of difference of opinion exists as to whether running sheep on growing crops in the early stages in beneacial or detrimental. In clayey land, which is liable to form a crust or top, sheep may be pastured with good results, as. they do much tc break the hard surface, giving the following rain easy access to the soil. With drilled crops, where the grain is all sown to a regulated depth, the presence of sheep is more beneficial than in those sown broadcast, as the risk of pulling up the plant is considerably reduced. Running sheep on a crop in loose, sands soil is harmful, as they drag out the plants and make the crop painfully thin. In no case should they be allowed on crops in wet weather, nor when the plants arc very young. Sheep need plenty of water, easy of access, during summer months. In this district, with the uncertainty of early rain, lambing should not commence before may. If rain falls earlier, so much the better, as the ewes will be stronger and give plenty of milk, but they will not do this cn dry food. May weather is not toe lot, and by the time the cold sets in the lambs are strong. In a couple of days, if provided with a good mother, a lamb is well able to withstand the cold. Early lambs, although they cut a little more wool, do not show any very marked difference in size by shearing time, whilst the trouble of rearing March lambs is almost double that of those later >orn. Aged ewes very often rear Sne lambs, as they are good mothers and under moderate conditions can oe relied upon to give plenty of milk ; however, as they are much more difficult to fatten when old, they should not be kept too long. Foung rams are better than old ones. I favor keeping a few sheep rather than stocking the land to its full capacity, with the risk of trouble in times of drought. Although sheej can be managed in conjunction with farming with little trouble, we must not overlook the fact that the more time and care bestowed on a flock the greater will be the profits."