Mower County transcript., 1890-07-09
FARM AND 1GARDEN.
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TO SHEEP-RAlSERS.

Il TO sAEEP-RAlSERS.
rhey Should Get Their Eyes Open-some
Interesting Facts.
1t Is quite evident, says the Breeders
Gazette, that flock owners are yet far
from understanding all that is valuable
md interesting in the line OF mutton
production. This fact has recently
found especial emphasis in experiments
Ut the South st. Paul stock yards,
which, though one of the newest, should
not be classsed among the least efficient
organizations. About three years ago
the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce sent
D committee to Montana to investigate
md determine what might be done
toward establishing . market nearer to
the great Northwest ranges than was
then found at Chicago or Kansas City.
The outcome of this effort was the OPEN
ing of union stock yards at South St.
Paul in January, 1883.
Report Of the two years business has
recently been made by A. B. Stickney,
president of the Chicago, st. Paul &
Kansas City railroad, showing an in
crease in tAe second year over the first
of cattle, l04 per cent; calves, IS PER
cent; sheep, 90 por cent; horses, 351
per cent, and q falling of in hogs Of
about "a per cent Among other schemes
inaugurated was barn for sheltering
and fattening cattle and sheep, which,
though for some time loft vacant, was
later on occupied, and in connection
r,;%h on al ;o;ricp 1;st;1lorv s.u<;1ivod
with great success and most satisfactory
results" Seven thousand fat cattle
were turned out in 1889. Mr.. Stickney
adds:
1.-THE next experiment was in feeding
sheep and the result has been most
gratifying as we'll as astonishing. The
winter before last the 6rst experiment
was made with few sheep. The result
was so encouraging that the same par
ties last winter fed at the yards some-
thing over 10, 00C sheep, and this winter
additional buildings will have to be
erected to supply the demand. Fully
10000 are already contracted for, and it
seems probable that 100000 sheep will
be fed this winter at the South St Paul
Stock Yards; the great point being that
they maintain perfect healthfulness.
Probably the most astonishing state
ment which shall be able to make to
you in this communication is the fact
that sheep are being bought as legiti-
mate private business venture at Chi
cago Stock Yards, shipped to St. Paul
and fattened and then returned to Chi
colo %ho 1oo o;~
days over 5000 of this class of sheep
have been received here, and am in
formed that parties are negotiating for
80, 600 sheep in Texas to be brought. to
Minnesota to be fattened during the
winter and made ready for the spring
market"
Now, when it is remem bered that most
Of the corn used in feeding these sheep
was shipped from Iowa and other corn
growing sections more or less remote,
that sheep had paid transportation from
the ranges to Chicago, thence to st.
Paul, and back again to Chicago, and
were then sold at profit, it seems to
the Gazette that the point has been
reached at which hock-owners can see
that something is at fault in a system
permitting so much of the ultimate
price of mutton to 60 to men other than
those who raise the sheep. The un-
wisdom of con6ning attention to WOOL
growing when the demand for mutton is
more encouraging has dawned upon a
fair percentage of those who have
shared in recent discouragements Of
fock-owners, and happily the number of
these is yearly growing less; but it is
equally evident that the shrewd man.
agement of the st. Paul Stock-Yards
has an eye on goodly number who can
yet be depended on to repeat the folly
of turning over to mtddlemen the profit
between lean and fat mutton carcasses
that is so greatly needed on the farm to
restore sheep husbandry to its deserved
position of profit and consequent popu-
larity.