Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-17
Sheep Pelts.

ALL wool growers have more CT less
sheep pelts to dispose Of At the present
time, it is necessary for every wool grower
to save all his products, to utilize and
realize all he can therefrom. Pelts accu-
mulate in various ways. Most wool
growers kill a few fat sheep yearly, for
family use. The wool on this class of
pelts most frequently is short Such pelts
can be adyantageously sold to pelt dealers
or tanners. In fine-wool fiocks there are
usually some ewes too old to retain for
breeding purposes. The wool on such
ewes in the fall or early winter tine time
they are usually pelted) is of six to seven
months growth, and will always pay to
shear or pull. Another way whereby
some shiftless breeders get large number
OF pelts, is from poor keeping and bad
management, losing sheep largely when
they have nearly or quite a full years
growth of wool. 1t always pays the owner
to shear or pull the wool from such pelts.
For some years the writer has practiced
pulling his pelts rather than selling them.
which pays abundantly for the extra ex
pense or time required. About the first
of the present month we slaughtered eight
old ewes, all of which had broken mouths.
Knowing that the greatest difficulty in
either shearing or pulling pelt is around
its edges, before slaughtering, we shear a
strip about four inches wide up the front
Of the neck, and al the wool off the head,
and back of the ears sufficiently far to
save the wool from getting bloody; also
shear the brisket and strip down the
center of the belly, and the wool off of the
inside of the legs and thighs, and rip the
skin in the center of the belly in the
sheared space; and thus the edges of the
pelt will be all right to pull or shear, and
the wool free from lime. Just as we had
finished skinning the ewes, sheep pelt
dealer drove into the yard, and proposed
to buy the pelts at sixty-fve cents each.
Had | not refused to sell, he would prob
ably have been willing to pay seventy five
cents, the regular price for similar pelts.
Hoping to benefit wool-growing breth-
rem, we give our plan of practice and the
results, showing the profit of pulling over
selling the eight pelts. Prepare board
three feet wide to four feet in length, with
one smooth side; spread pelt on the
smooth side Of the board, flesh s ide up.
Have mixed some lime and water, about
the consistency Of good rich cream Qime
mixture such as is suitable for plastering
or laying brick will do, but you must use
a little more Of the latter. Wood ashes
mixed with water, as with lime, will start
the wool quicker, but it frequently eats
into the skin and makes it so tender that
the skin will tear in pulling. Spread
thin layer or coating of the lime mixture
all over the flesh side, then fold the flesh
sides together carefully, and roll up and
lay in a moderately warm place, from six
to twelve hours; the wool will then be
ready to pull. Then place the board at an
angle of, say, forty-ive degrees, unroll
the pelt, scrape off the lime, and lay flesh
side upon the board, holding the neck in
one hand, and with the other slide or
push the wool off in a whole fleece, which
can be easily and nicely done in ten
minutes. Then roll it up, same as if
shorn wool. Put the fieeces separately in
dry, airy place for six or eight days, to
let the moisture escape, that is natural to
lately shorn wool, as we'll as that absorbed
from the use Of the lime moisture Last
year we had similar lot Of wool to that
we now have, and sent it to wool man
Ilfacturer. their SOrtar valued If at fortv-
five cents per pound. Calling such wool
worth thirty-fve cents this year, we get
for the wool of each pelt 1929, or
$1.1712 more than the highest price the
pelts would haze ght.-George Camp
bell W IN Ohio Farmer.