Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-08-30
MONTANA SHEEP.

The following record tf sheep herds ir
Upper Smiths river valley is condensed
from the Helena Herald correspondence:
Cook Bros. have one of the finest loca-
E tons in the valley, and their flocks number
over 1000 head. Their clip shis year av-
eraged II pounds. Their wool nex.
year vii! ner them close on to SlUUU. and
their increase will be from $500 to 5000.
When we consider that the Cook bows
started five years ago Wifi only 800 ewes.
1t strikes me that one would have to wear
out good many pencils to figure ont
better aging business than Shcep-rai>iny.
when intelligently and economically man
aged. The Cook Bros. breed almost en-
tirsly to longwool, although they are now
experimenting with a certain cross with
the Merino. They keep none but pure
blood tirst-cl;,ss rams.
! Cook & 1IusSey have a flock of 3.4OO
head, well bred up to Merino. and j. O.
Hussey's private flock numbers 500. also
bred to short-wool. Their clip averaged
nearly six pounds.
Dr.Parberry has 1900 head, high grade
Merino, and another spring will probably
show a clip unsurpassed by any flock in
the valley, tie scab having been entirely
Cared.
Hugh Morrow has charge of Auerbach
& Beveridge's flock Of LOCO. The band is
stabby- and cannot be profitably handled
Until the disease is cured
l.. ID. Burt recently bought out his part
ilcr. Hatch. and his band now numbers
$500. Mr.. Burt is an old California sheep
raiser and thoroughly understands the
business. Mr.. Hatch is about to return to
California to bring out another band Of
sheep. 1t is perhaps needless to say that
the Californians believe in and breed the /
Merino sheep.
John Potter three years ago bought 500 i
ewes. He has had three landings and now
has nearly 2.4ov sheep. Afsother good op-
portunity for figuring. His clip was 5 IA
pounds. and from S63 ewes over one wear
old this year raised s94 lambs. His rams
are half-blood Cotswold.
Smith Bros. & Mcdonald, who are on
upper North Fork. have band of 200.
They started with 800 Merino-bred ewes.
have had two landings. and breed to long
wo0s. In two years the band has trebled.
This year they raise4 LOO lambs-over
lOO per cent. of the ewes. There were 22C
pairs. and one eve took the sweepstakes
by dropping four lambs, and all of them
lived. This firm have purchased of a
breeder at Boise. Idaho, 1000 head Of yearl- :
ng ewes, and VIM. Smith has gone down
o drive them up this fall.
Leonard Lewis flock number 2.lOO. He
breeds Cotswold and Merino. crossing
and forwards. His band for
several years was very scabby, but after
I'VE dlppings last summer cured the dis
,ase. and the sheep are now in fine con-
lition.
Del.acy & McFarland's band. at count
AIKEN last week, numbered 1880. They
'rced Cotswolds, and record over 100 per
ent. increase this year.
Bennett GOOdale, breeders exclusively
Il thoroughbred COtswold sheep. are adj
located on South Rurcb
;reek. Their flock numbers 1S3 head. At
ne head OF which stands the fine Imported
am "Brltish Prince" They have a large
'arm stable, in which to have their lambs
rop In the month of march. An inspec-
on OF their stock and ranch is well worth
ne whlle TO any one who delights in fine
heep and believes in good improvements.
Smith & Crittenden. also on South Rnrch
reek, have 800 sheep. Hank Crittenden
in charge of the ranch. They breed to
[erinos. 4
Alex. Watson, on Benton Gulch, has 100
ead OF MerinO-bred sheep. which run on
re hllls month in and month out without NJ
~ herder. 1t frequently happens that "
le oand Is not seen for a week. and it il
'idom that any .-.e lost or killed by wild
annals. A mountain lion got in the band
lew weeks ago and carried off three.
iieh were afterwards found carefully
'vered over with leaves and branches cf
ees.
There are over 10000 sheep now In A
MINIS River Valley, and stranger can
i've through and around the valley and
It see single flock. That would ind,-
fe that there Is plenty of sea-room. The
crease this year is carefully estimated Al re-
900. The clip and increase, at a low -.
nate, win ret $4,000, and probably
Ofl10