Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-11-07
Cod. LOunsberry Interviews Hugh
Campbell on the Subject Of
Sheep Husbandry.
An Argument in Favor Of Shr0p-
shires-Amount Of Hay Neces-
sary for 100 Sheep.
A Few Observations Showing the
Immense Profits of Successful
Sheep Raising.
From Thurs6ay's DAILY

Bismarck TRIBUNE away back in 1873, re-
turned on the midnight express Saturday.
Interviewed by a TRIBUNE man he said:
II have come home to vote and to
obtain additional material for my
North Dakota sketches which 1 shall pub
lish during the winter. These sketches
will embrace old-time incidents of historic
value, not emitting some of the funny
things, personal sketches Of the men who
have left their mark on. Dakota history,
but the principal object in view will be the
presentation of North Dakota soil, climate
and advantages in a proper light. To gath
er material for a chapter on sheep l yes
terday visited the sneep ranch of the
CampDells, 18 miles south Of Bismarck. I
knew that would be my only opportunity
and so 1 went on Sunday"
ayes, L was here editing the TRIBUNE
when the Campbells first came into the
country. l think it Vas in 1881. The elder,
Alexander Campbell, was a sheep farmer
in Scotland, and his three sons, James,
Hugh and Dugald, were to the sheep
ranch born. They had visited all parts of
the country, including Texas. New Mexico
and California, but in the bluffs of the
Missouri river they found a combination of
climate, grasses and water, with shelter,
that led them to choose this country in
preference to all Others"
II was specially interested in the sheep
business because 1 put my money--my
savings from a year in Libby prison and
from my pay as a soldier-into the bust
ness at the close Of the wal, and lost"
"Why did you lose?'
"Because I had no practical experience
with sheep except as a farmer lad and l
was imposed on by the old heads who
wanted to sell. Because I purchased
sheep in Michigan and brought them on to
the wild grasses Of the plains, driving
them in the fall from Marshall, Mich, over
land to southern Minnesota, and because
l did not have proper arrangements to
handle them"
Eyes. 1 learned a lesson and think 1 can
talk sheep with any Of them, and yet l
hink it best to give the actual experience
of Others"
"What did Campbell say ?"
81 met Hugh. The others were out at
Goose Lake, where they have a winter
camp. Dugald is interested in the cam
paign, being a candidate for county com-
missioner in Emmons county. Our talk
was about as follows:
"How many sheep have you now
in your band? ?"
"About 1000. James and Dugald have
about 1900 at Goose Lake and I have about
1900 here. I shall reduce mine to about
1900 this fall"
"What are the sheep worth now.
"Choice ewes and wethers, the pick of
the flock, are worth from 1915 to 81. A
cut Of a well culled flock would be worth
1915. The culls being those, who from age
or other cause, are not adapted to being
kept in a large band, are worth So. The
culls are often desirable sheep to buy for
beginners, as the older ewes are more apt
to drop twins. We try to keep our band
under three year DID,
What is your average rate OF increase"
sour average for the eight years has
been 81 per cent. Sometimes it has been
as high as 90 per cent, and sometimes as
low as rs per cent. Our books show an
average of s."
"What is your average wool clip ?"
"Our average has been seven and a half
pounds"
But they tell ME that the Lanterman
brothers claim an average OF ten pounds"
~ can understand that. They let out
their sheep on shares in small bands to
careful farmers, and a sheep that in a band
of 1000 would not sheer to exceed seven
and a half pounds on an average, in a
band of 200 might run up to ten pounds.
1t is not practicable for us to keep our
sheep in small bands, as we are handling
them for ourselves and to get the best re-
suits for us. The small bands also yield
about ten pounds more mutton to the
head"
"When did you start in here? How
large was your band, and what grade of
sheep did you start with? What grade do
you recommend
"Dugald Campbell came here in 1881
from Lexington, KY, and in 1882 went to
Larimie Plains, Wyo., and purchased 1000
through to the Black Hills, where he left
them till October, when he drove them on
through to the Missouri river. The sheep
were grade Merino, graded up from Mexi-
can stock and were very hardy. We use
full bl0Oded Merino bucks until the grade
we cross with Shropshire. The Shropshire
wool is too open and becomes too dingy
and the feeces are lighter, but the lambs
are harder. A Shropshire lamb is dropped
and at once gets up and shakes himself
and goes to feeding, while a Merino lamb,
especially if the day is chilly, is liable to
chill. The MerinOS require greater care
at the Landing season, but where the
party keeping them is experienced they
are the most profitable. The MerinO in
this country should shear from seven to
twelve pounds, and the increase, as l have
shown, should not fall below IS per cent,
ven where kept in large bands"
"What amount of hay is necessary to
keep a band of 100 sheep?" "We use ten
ton to the hundred. Some years very much
less will do. We simply invest that much
to insure our sheep. They feed on the
prairie grass all winter, and sometimes for
days at a time, do not eat anything but
the dead grass, but we have the hay for
them if we need it,or if they want it. The
hay costs usl about n dollar per ton. In
Montana they use about ten ton to the
1000 sheep, but the hay there costs $40 per
ton. There are always a few sheep which
have to beSkept in the hospital. For these
feed is required, but ten ton to the loo
covers all expense"
"As to grazing? ?"
"Well. l have q tree claim that cost me
$18, besides thee expense of improving 1t,
and that is all the land [ control. l have
three camps and all the hay and grazing l
need. and you car see how much it costs
me. There are no abandoned claims in
8gBsE