St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-17
SHEEP IN DAKOTA.
III. @. Ayers, in the North Dakota
Farmer, Presents These Sug-
SrnStsnnr

III. @. Ayers, in the North Dakota
Farmer, Presents These Sug-
gestiOns.
There can be no doubt of the entire
fitness of Dakota for successful sheep
husbandry. Sheep keeping in Dakota
need not be regarded as perilous or ex-
perimental by any careful, energetic
man who has ever had experience with
sheep. Any prudent man, though in
experienced, who is fit to have the care
of any other kind of stock, may safely
procure flock of moderate numbers,
and rely upon paying success.
Ohio is great wool growing state. I
have had experience there and l know
whereof | speak. l do not hesitate to
say that Dakota is. in every respect, SUI
perior to Ohio for sheep. We have no
wet storms in winter, and this consider
alton is of the highest Importance. Cold
weather does not count, if sheep have
reasonable protection against driving
storms of wind and SNOW.
Absence of fences, of course. will re-
Quire herding, but this is a guarantee
against loss by wolves and dogs. A close
corral for use at night makes assurance
in this respect perfect. Five hundred
in a band is small enough flock to herd.
Several owners having less numbers
may bunch them together and thus
make the expense of herding light. The
small fiocks may be kept at home dur
ing the winter. and can be cared for
easily and profitably. They may be
''wintered" on Dakota hay without
grain; but a reasonable quantity of
grain can be marketed as probably in
the sheep lot during the winter as any
where else. Give them a little grain
every day. Its cost will come back
with interest at shearlng. and in the
greater number and better quality of
the lambs.
There is very little probability that
tariff legislation will seriously affect
the sheep industry of Dakota. All the
threats thathav been made have not vet
weakened the prices of sheep or wool.
The beauty of the business consists
largely of the certainty of the returns.
Neither hot winds, drought, hail, chinch
bug, hog cholera nor gopherS can cause
the wool grower to hold an empty sack
at shearing time. The product is cash.
There is no necessity for truck and
dicker in disposing of wool clip or
the increase of the flock.
AS for range it is unlimited here. If
Michigan and Ohio can pasture sheep
an land worth $40 to $50 per acre, what
may not be done in Dakota?
Get good stock; but there is no need
of paying fancy prices. If you can't
get such as are most desirable at rea-
sOnable prices to begin with, start with
less desirable grade, but breed them
right up from the first. No kind
of stock can be improved more quickly
by judicious breeding, and none will
pay for it better. A very cmomou
flock will pay So head for their keep
ing. A better kind, with same feed
and care, will pay more according to
quality.
1 would advise the raising of an
ample supply of millet for winter feed
ing. 1t is a very sure crop, and
answers the double purpose of hay
and grain. There is no danger that the
business will be Overdone. The more
sheep we have, the better price we
shall. get for wool. There ought to be
100000 of sheep in Dakota to-day. If
there were our financial condition
would soon be impregnable.