Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-23
Sheep on Dakota Ranges
Cor in North Dakota Farmer.


Our experience with sheep in Dakota
may be of interest. We now have three
hundred and twenty high grade Merlnos
and one hundred and twenty coarse woods
of no particular breed. The Merinos were
bought by Col. Olin, of Rochester, Mimi,
and shipped by railroad to Westport, OAK,
and driven across the country to our pres
ent location, in the summer of 1882. Dur
ing the drive from Westport number
were lost from scarcity of water and the
abundance of "wild oats" or prairie
needles. When they arrived here they
were in poor condition to endure a rough
winter, consequently our loss for the
year ending Aug. 10, 1888, was about ten
per cent.
During the summer and fall of 1888
they did splendidly, and went into the
winter of 1888 and 1884 in good order.
That winter they were fed only hay and
what they could get on the prairies;
yet they came through in excellent con-
dition, and raised nearly so per cent. of
all lambs dropped. Our loss ending Aug.
10, 1884, was only three per cent. Last
winter, owing to poor feed Git was impos-
sible to get good hay on account of con-
tinued wet weather. and very severe
winter, our loss was heavy, amounting to
nearly sixteen per cent. for the year end
ing Aug. 10, 1885.
In 1888 the wool clip averaged six and
three-quarter pounds per head, Melted us
sixteen and one-half cents pound. In
1884 the feeces averaged nine pounds per
head, and netted us sixteen cents pound
in Bismarck. This summer they averag
ed trife over seven pounds per head,
the falling off being caused IN part by
the hard winter, and also by reason of in
Guiding a hundred head of coarse wool
sheep, brought from Ohio the previous
fall. This year our wool melted US but
fourteen and one-half cents, the price of
wool having gradually fallen off for the
last three years. The wool markets are
better now, than they have been for a
long time.
We have generally raised about 81 per
cent. of all lambs dropped and seldom
have had any trouble with them after they
were squarely upon their feet. In this
climate lambs should not be allowed to
come earlier than the first of May and
not later than the twenty fifth, IF possible.
If they come earlier they are liable
to heavy losses from cold rains and
storms, besides the extra expense neces-
sary to care for them. II allowed to come
later than the twenty-ffth of May. they
do not do so well, seldom making as large
or hardy lambs by weaving time,
with us, about the first of October. To
have the lambs come the second week in
May, the ram should be turned in to
the ewes the second week in Decem-
| Der.
| Sheep appear to make far better NUT
! ton here than in most Of the Eastern
states; at least that is our experience, and
the experience of others formerly engag-
ed in sheep raising in Ohio and Illinois
We seldom feed any before the the middle
of December, and very little after the
twenty-fifth of March, unless the snow
lays on the ground later than usual.
Much has been said about "wild oats"
killing sheep, but there is no necessity
for loss if proper care is taken to keep
them on the same range during June,
July, and the middle of August, when the
"oats'' or needles" have fallen to the
ground and do no harm. If sheep are
driven, or are allowed to range at wild,
over prairies where the coats" are very
thick, some will be lost from the effects
of the "oats" penetrating the flesh.
Sheep should have plenty of good water
and salt regularly, and good shelter in
| the winter; but care must be taken that
the sheds are not too warm, as that is
worse than having them too cold.
To make sheep raising success, they
must be protected from storms, dogs and
have plenty of good feed and care.