Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-09-10
sHEEp.BREHDISG IN TEXAS.
Northern and Western Texas ..s the Hab
itat ofthe sheep. breeds and Nar'o-
ties That DO Well There. what
u Needed 60 Make sheep
Raising Pay.

Special September Edition Galveston News
Sheep husbandry in northern and
western portions of the state is a much
more pleasant subject 10 enlarge upon
to-day than II would have been three
or four months ago. Then the bust
ness which mad been so succt ssiully
conducted before asto cause something
OF a local craze, received "a decided
black eye from an unpreccdentedly Sc
we're winters aud was about 10 receive
another IN n wool market SO duh, drea-
rs and horelessly low that these who
were not discouraged by the severe
winter were not by any means satisfied
with the prospect. The average sheep
raiser arrived at the sheaiing season
much more disposed to get rid OF his
stock in trade than 10 contemplate fur
thcr Investments, or TO continue en-
gagged In nm occupation so much at
the mercy of the elements aud iluctua-
tions ia value of the staple. In many
instanc, shccpfalser' found them
selves owners OF numerous pelts worth,
say - 10 90 ceuts each, In place OF the
sheen with whirh they entered the
winter; ssme found themselves short
OF their original number, or with n
small increase rs the landing season
passed, and some werc fortunate
enough TO shy ~ have done well with
my Sheep but three months since
these latter were supposed to be in tbe
minority; whereas, to-day careful
canvass of the sheep raising Districts
would show that the successful men
were in very respectable major
ity; but the fact remains that last
winter was hard one, which
forced many nuvices ut raising
sheep 10 wish they had less
faith and more previous aud less
costly experience. The reasons Tor the
losses of last winter are many, and out
side of the severity of the season they
vary somewhat in different localities,
Ii was not 50 much from cold rs the
many changes of weather continuing
month after month, with greater
.psypnrton than usual of cold rains.
The condition OF the range to ali APP
pearance was good, but the grass was
rs nearly devoid ofnutrition or strength
as could we'll b.. II can be said furth-
er that the parasites that love to tor
ment the sheep obtained an unusual
stronghold during the lnte summer
rains, and were of material assistance
in assisting insuiliciently-fed sheep on
the down gfade, although we'l-fed and
otherwise healthy animals could with
stand them. In addition TO these natu-
raj but extreme conditions, new men
without experience, yet with firm
faith In the ability of the sheep To live
and thrive without feed or shelter, were
handling sheep In large numbers, and
10 their acknowledgement and want OF
proper re on the part of herdets u
very far proportion of last winter
mishaps can be traced. A late spring,
followed 10y dull wool market, closed
"A season disastrous 10 some, fairly re-
munerutivc TO some, aud up.to the
usual standard of profit with II fortu-
nate few.
At tais time the feeling is very much
better, confidence Is being restored
successful sheep raisers are buying M
at low prices some of the smaller iloclis
nf less fortunate neighbors, while 9th.
ers ARE stitching up their backs To try
il again. The summer SO far has been
favorable; wool having touched bottom
is again looking upward, and some OF
the unfortunates having confes sed their
errors in management, are content u
Try again.
The management of sheep differs
widely on the northeast and northwest
portions of the state. Wilblrger, Baylor
rhroekmorton, Shackeliord, Callahan
and Coleman are counties where com
paratively large nocks are run, and
counties ON the west of those name,
contain very few Jocks numbering
less than 1000 head. Eastward ot ;hos,
counties some large ilDek+ are run, bui
the average becomes smaller as til,
farming s. Ctions are reached and her,
sheepnItn are farmers also, aud IN most
cases they depend on their own eNer-
lions to supply whatever may be neces
sary for winter'provision of their sheer
beside the produce carried to market
and those stock farmers, owning few
mares, a small homie bunch of cattle and
sheep to the numbers their available
range or pastures will support, come
more nearly 10 taking advantage of al
favorable conditions surrounding then
than either the stouknlan who is not d
farmer or the farmer who
is not Il stockman. In these
farming sections the most econ
onsical aud profitable sheep-raising i
done IN pasture, 10y using the herdcr OF
help To do other labor than care for the
sheep but where good stretches of un
occupied grazing ground Is avail tblt
most Hooks are put under the caro o
herders and are closely watched from
day TO day. To see that they are on
To Craze early, that they have access /,
clean water daily, that they Craze ~
late as possible IN the evening. thai
they are salted regularly, are Tie re
gulnr duties OF the herder. III the pro
prietor VIII see that they have sheds 4
protect them from storms, and fodde
or hay rs a guarantee against an,
fallure on the part OF the range IN win
ter, all but minor incldentals can b,
considered cared for, and the flock
will surely pay handsome dividend
equal or better than any other kind o
stock. Marshy and low land or rank
grass ranges are 20 be avoided. bat
there are very few parts of Texas
which are not healthy for sheep.
Westward, where sheep-raising Is 4
distinct business, where large tracts oi
land have been devoted 20 wool
growing, the larger floeks are seldom
Kept in one place long. the camps are
moved from place 10 place To give the
sheep the benefit OF fresh grass and &c
permit the sections eaten down e
grow again and furnish fresh pasturag,
in turn. The experienced herder Is 4
valuable man; he must hc an artist, FOL
on his care aud management depend
not only the profits bat the capital en-,
gagged IN the husintss. Under an ex.
pert a tiuck OF l0o0 ewes will surely pay
more 10 the owner than twice the nl nj
her under shittless or Incompetent
men. The heider or manager OF /.
Npkfpru flock mas Very Ilttl. "a lanaan