The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-10
A Model Texas Sheep Ranch.

A Model Texas Sheep Ranch.
Last week we visited the sheep ranch
of Mr.. II. G.. Mills, four miles from
McGregory. Having seen aud been
acquainted with score or more sheep
ranches i'm Northern and Western
Texas, and knowing of the great losses
sustained we determined on this occa-
sion, if possible, to learn the true
cause.
Mr.. Mills says he can raise a pound
of wool as cheaply as a pound of cotton,
all things being equal. lie came from
Michigan about five years ago, COM
menced with 400 sheep, and added, by
purchase, so more. He had at the com
mencement 400 acres of land, built
temporary pens, and as soon as he
could reach it, erected good dwelling,
barns and sheds. He now has barn
36x40 feet, for horses wool, grain, ETC.,
together with the necessary rooms for
shearing. There is good sized yard
in front of the barn and -shed-the
cow-shed is 22X30 feet and adjoining
the barn there are $50 feet of the shed,
SO fret wide, for the ewes. These
sheds are covered with plank and
strips or battens. Beyond that are 30
feet more of shed for the bucks, of
which he has GO fnll-blood, imported.
The large pen or yard, in front of the
eve shed which has large number
of troughs for feeding purposes in the
w;nier-leads into the cow-lot, and
thence into open prairie. The back
shed leads into pasture containing $50
acres, where the bucks are kept. The
entire length of this shed is 81 feet, 80
feet wide-the open side facing the
south and caves on the north side,are
three or four feet high, with double
roof, while fence divides it into the
two apartments mentioned; and i'm
mediately north of this is another shed
of the same style and witdh, 1872 feet
long, also for the ewes Each of these
sheds contains as many sheep as are
allowed to run together night or day;
in fact, there are two separate herds.
About one mile aud half from this
ranch Mr.. Mills has his herd of mutton
sheep, containing about 300 head.
cared for by man hired by the year
for the purpose, and who resides with
his family right there, carefully guard
ing the sheep day and night. There is
also shed on this ranch, 30x1S4 feet,
making a total of 574 feet of shed.
There is stream of lasting water run
ming through the place, and he always
his his water in the shade.
In the winter, when it becomes nee
essary to feed, he feeds cotton seed and
corn, and continues to feed every day
until the new grass is sufficient to sus-
tain them. He pens his sheep every
night, and in case of snow he throws
them load of oat straw in each pom.
The bucks are not herded like the
other sheep, and thew USUALLY come up
between shutdown and dark, but they
are always counted, and if one is mis-
sing he is hunted until found. Mr.
Mills purchases his bucks in April,
from Vermont, at one or two years
old, and uses them for only two years /;
he then sells them at reduced price.
On an average his bucks cost him about
$50 each, delivered at Waco. He is
very careful about shipping, never pur-
chases bucks that have been shipped in
sheep cars for fear of contracting dis
ease and never allows them 10 be taken
from the cars from the time of leaving
Vermont until arriving at Waco.
All of the pens are enclosed with a
fence made of five plank and two wires,
so that wolves cannot get 10 the sheep
over or through the fe ICE. Mr. Mills
says he has not lost more than three or
four sheep by wolves. He now has
5000 head of sheep, besides 900 lambs,
and has not lost in tho entire five years
more than 100 About So to 90 per
cent of the lambs dropped on this ranch
are raised.
m ~ CHI nd 80
dog take the flock which should not
exceed 1000 away to feed. In hot
weather they feed in the morning and
IN the cool of the afternoon, and in the
heat of the day they seek the shade,
where an abundance of pure cold water
can be had without going in the sun.
In the sprj z, as soon as tho lambs be-
gin to drop, wagon is constantly
employed TO carry ewes and lambs that
are picked mp on the prairie 10 the
shed. He then numbers them, l, 2, 3,
etc, consecuIively, as he finds them,
putting corresponding figures on the
lamb and ITS mother, and by this me h.
cd it can be easily understood which
lamb and eve belong together in the
event that a eve should refuse to own
her lamb. During this verv important
and critical season, Mr.. Mills has re-
manned every night for two or three
weeks in the pen with his ewes to take
care of the lambs, and to this he attri.
butes the small per cent. of loss OF
ambs; and to his good substantial and
efficient sheds, with proper food prop
erly fed, he attributes the low perceIl-
tage of loss of old sheep.
He shears his sheep in May, and this
year sheared from 5000 sheep 81 sacks