Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-02-13
SHEEP RAISING.
Read by E. II. Wells, before the Lansing
Farmers Club, January 25, 1879.

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FRIENDS OF THE CLUB:-I am compar
atively novice in the business Of sheep
husbanlry, therefore cannot speak with
tue positiveness might after longer prac.
tical experience in the business. How.
ever, my impressions and experience thus
far, also hints cleaned from others, are
at your disposal, in order as thoughts oc.
cur, without arrangement or classification.
Years since, before I thought OF en.
gaging in tho business Of sheep raising,
l was especially enamored with the large
English breeds, such IS the CotswOld, ,
Leiceshires, &c., and rs they appear in
show pens, they are certainly noble
! looking animal. And when I concluded
to try my hand at the business, my pref
udice was strong in their favor. But up
on consulting with friend, in whom l
had confidence, whose experience and
facilities tor observation, entitled his
opinions to great weight, l concluded
they were scarcely the sheep for me. lie
said, III the first place, that from 20 to 30
were as many as it WAS safe to put in
one flock, and that they needed range
about equal to SO many cattle That with
but ordinary care, they were far from be-
ing the slightly, healthy, noble animal l
had supposed, and that generally their
clip Of wool was not satisfactory. And
that 4 few kept near some city or market
for mutton, would undoubtedly be Il good
thing to have; he could not recommend
| them for my purpose, or for others whose
object was to grow wool to any extent.
OF the South or other variety Of Downs,
he had a favorable impression, but I
found none for sale at any reasonable tig-
ure. Upon his recommendation I con-
cludcd to get as good lot of grade sheep
as could find. find the same recon-.
mend alton in our best agricultural journ-
ais. I do not find that people are sue
ceeding with even the Downs, as we'll as
with the MerinO; and think the large
English sheep are generally in disgrace
where once popular.
l.
ly tinctured with Merino blood, and l
purchased full blood male Merino to
run with them, by which means I think
have added materially to the value of
my flock. One year ago | purchased
another full blood male that Mr.. Judson,
secretary Of our state agricultural society,
thought second to none in these parts,
and Is certainly noble looking animal,
shearlng, last season, between 21 and %
pounds, without including the ag.locks.
As to the profit have derived from
my sheep thus far, I must say it is very
small-rery small. But considering my
inexperieuce in the business, which
probably caused the loss Of several ewes
with their lamb bs, the first spring, and the
serious loss in the season of 1877,
by dogs and wolves, which though liable
to occur again any moment, trust will
not, and though my trust is often mixed
with distrust, I am not disposed to give
up in dlspair, but keep trying if have,
boy like, to whistle to keep my courage
up. While have no absolute knowledge
of the expense per head Of keeping my
sheep, I think the following fair esti- |
mate, by the 100 head, as feed, expense
and income:
Hay, 16 tons, call the price $4.50....$ r 90
Grain, for 6 months, bushel
per day, equal parts corn and
Pasture for summer. say Is acres: IS 90
Shearing, III cents each. ............ 10 W
Total expense. 1857 90 |
My sheep average triae over
lbs. each, at q cents, say...... $aO OO
Leaving a net profit of.......... 50 90
Not very fattering exhibit, and when
you deduct taxes. it don't grow better
worth cent You observe say nething
of the expense Of attendance in feeding
and general care, nor Of the interest on
capital invested. On the other hand
say nothing of the value of the material
by them into the best quail
ity of fertilizer, nor of the annual increase
in numbers.
brought 80 sheep into the State three
years ago last Christmas, and through in.
experience and from dogs, wolves. &C., I
I have lost heavily. have now, say 1870,
Of improved quality, with few more
culls, an annual increase of forty per
cent on the entire flock, or of nearly
fifty per cent on the number OF ewes.
I had % sheep killed, at one time, by
dogs, and about the same number badly
mutilated. Also, l had seven head
killed, probably by wolves, at one time,
and several more killed at different times.
Have sold few for mutton.
A few reflections may not be unproft-
able. sold my wool for % cents per tb.
delivered on the cars. 1 buy it back in
yarn at from 81 to $3.50 per h.; very
inferior small thin hand-knlt socks at
from 45 to Is cents per pair; casslmeres
at from $3.50 to $3.50 per yard-us'ng
probably less than two pounds of
r. ,,np1 nT nInth Az
small child once said, in true simplicity,
"v0u can draw your own impudence." 1t
is hard for me to restrain mine.
Butte resume. My experience satisfies
me that the prevalent notion that Merino
sheep are too tender to Withstand the
rigors of our winters is mistaken one.
Thev require shelter and protection
against storms and drifting snow, but
thew need not necessarily be expensive
ones, nor over tight, but they should be
on dry ground, or be hOOred. 1 am told
many keep sheep without furnishing
them with water, either summer or winter.
I think this perfectly cruel, and 1 cannot
believe sheep, or any animal, can thrive
without plenty of pure water. sheep
will not readily eat the stalk of coarse
timothy hay, but eat greedily OF the leaves
of twigs of brush and weeds; and sum.
mer or winter eat with avidity the leaves
and buds of the pernicious wild rose, and
think, in time, will extermlnate the
nuisance where opportunity is given them:
They will also eat straw quite freely, and
are especially fond of chatf. l feed hay
and Moons, and grain at night.
l think if they can have roots once or
twice week, it would be a great help.
I suppose wool grown in our climate,
when the sheep are properly cared for, is
head, than that raised in warmer climates,