The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-03
sheep Dangers and Drawbacks.

The present year is one of the most
favorable for sheep since the decline in
numbers began in 1855, and not only are
the animals in excellent condition. but
the outlook for the future of the industry
Is very promising. Sheep hushandry has
been sadly neglected in many localities
heretofore. and IL is only very recently
that a revival in the interest has taken
place. The number of docks steadily de-
creased after the drawback of 1SS4 when
fiockmasters IN many sections came to
the conclusion that there was no money
in sheep raising, and among the noun
famous regions the decline in numbers
amounted to 100000 or more. The result
OF this sudden change was evident The
value of wool and mutton increased, and
the indifference of the remaining owners
TO their docks only helped TO emphasize
this matter. The result of this is that for
the present year, II is estimated, that in
spite OF LOCO 600 less sheep which we have,
the prices for sheep products has increased
the value of sheep over the returns of pre-
yious years by 81, 900, 900 or IS, 900 900.
This increase could have been much
greater had the drawbacks to the industry
been removed In all sections of the
country reports come in about the ravages
of foot-root, fukes, scab, grub in the head
and other diseases. Nearly all of the fatal
disorders, however, are easily prevented.
and the loss of nearly 20o0, 600 animals
last year through various causes could
have been greatly reduced bv better sys-
TEN of husbandry. However. the sheen are
IN better condition this year than ever be-
fore. and there is a widespread movement
which will make this industry more prornis-
Ing IN the future. The losses last year were
nearly twice as much as this wear, but this
was due largely TO the great mortality of
the sheep IN the mountains where unIlsu-
ally severe weather was experienced.
Among the mountains of the far West and
on the racine coast the mountain sheen
were killed of by the thousands, while in
the East similar high mortality was met
with where the sheep were raised on high
elevations. While the main drawbacks TO
sheep raising IN the lower countries seem
TO be diseases which with q little care
can largely be prevented, the great diff
Guilty IN the mountains is the weather and
proper breed. Sheep raising in the
mountain regions has consequently been
abandoned 10 large extent. and il will
not be resumed again successfully untrl
more appropriate sheep for those regions
can oe found. Good mountain sheep are
rare breeds, and only few are in EXIST
ence, ana many OF these would not do
LOT the mountainous sections of this
country. The breed adapted for this 70
gion must possess unusual hardness az
constitution, capable of withstandiug Sc
we're storms, and of finding nouriSRing
ANp1 AtAApHE the E0ChS ana craEs Of the
nlgn plateaus and peaks. In the hfeh
lands OF Scotland there are sheep which
might be bred here for this purpose and
great success be obtained.
The American merino, no matter how
adaptable 10 many sections of the country.
Is not the sheep for these high, cold re-
glons. The English cheviot is \ good
mountain animal in many respects, bur il
IS doubtful If il would answer the purpose
otslrea. ne Enghsh lonk sheep probably
comes rs near to the mark as anv breed
yet mentioned, and il is 10 be regretted
that tins breed has not vet been given a
chance In the mountainous regions of
America. There are other mountain
sheep IN the Highlands which could be
prohtaoiy introduced in these same re-
gions. sheep husbandry among the high
piateaas and mountains has fallen into
dlscredit, owing TO the great losses of
lss4-5 and IL : doubtful if it will be re-
vived again unless some improved noun
tain breed has been experimental With
ana found 10 be capable of living and
thriving In those cold ATTITUDES.
E. F. SMITH