The Coconino sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1891, 1891-10-22
wooily Information.

The total number of sheep in the
United States January 1, 1891, was
43, AL ,l36, valued at $108, 1897, ,447. |
January |; 1890, the number of sheep
in the United States was A, 1886, ,072, |
valued at 800, $50 ,076. Thus it will
be seen that less number of sheep by
about l,000,00 in 1891 was worth
$S, 100000 more than the previous
year. Sheep reached theirlowest price
in 1886, when the general average was
only $1.91 per head. The present
average is $3.50 per head against 81. 25
in 1890.
Texas leads all the States in the
Union in the number of sheep, aggre-
eating 4,490,272. Ohio comes next
with 4,061 1897 followed by California,
with 3,712,310; New Mexico, with
8, 1913, ,663; Michigan with 2,763, 240;
Oregon, 2,431 ,725; Montana, 2,089,-
337: Colorado, 1919, 500; Utah, g.
055, 900; New York, 1898, ,583; Penn
sylvania, 1,039,50 Next in order
are Missouri, with 1913, $50; Wisconsin,
S89,9l Kentucky, 765, ,679; Illinois,
no, ,983; Indiana, l,l50, 200; Main is
credited with 547, $40; New Hamshire,
1888, 1888; Vermont, 53l, ,249; Massa-
chusetts, 50, ,965; Rhode Island, 20, 433,
and Connecticut, 1924. We note a
slight gain during the year 1890 in the
number of sheep in Maine and Rhode
Island while Vermont, New Hamshire
and Massachusetts, show very slight
falling off in number, but an increase
in value
The state agents of the Government
in Maine report that greater or less
number of sheep were purchased last
summer to consume the surplus hay
, in the central part ofthe State. In the
older counties, in the vicinity of the
large towns, there is decrease in the
, number of sheep, due to the ravages OF
, dogs, In New Hamshire there seems
to have been a revival of interest in
the sheep husbandry in certain quar-,
, ters. Many farmers who discontinued
+ sheep raising a few years ago are now
= buying small flocks, of better grade
than were formerlykept. In Connects
n cut there are enough waste district,
!, and winter forage To maintain three
: times as many sheep rs now exist
. In New York the keeping of sheer
Z would demand more general attention
4 but for the ravages of dogs. The dos
nuisance is great drawback TO sheel
. raising in many States. In Ohio anC
), Michigan sheep have increased in mum
= bers and quality, the mutton breed
= having the lead. For three years pas
7 the product of the flocks has beer
- largely sold for feed or fed by tn,
N farmers. In most of the old State
~ mutton breeds are now the most pop
~ ular.
~ The net decrease in the number o
=, sheep January /, 1891, from 1885,
: shows a total of 904, 1856; net increas
: over 1889 is 1872, ,057; the decreas
- since 1884 shows the larger total O
~ 1876, ,490 sheep. Thus in 1884 TeXa
a had 1856, ,275 sheep, while she now ha
=, 5000, 900 less. This heavy loss wa
-. chiefly due to the billiards Of 1886
-, - which wiped out 1000, 900 of her sheep
Il The great loss to California and Orc
n gon as compared to 1890 must be a:
- cribed to this same cause. 1t is ev
V dent that if sheep raising is to advanc
in the eastern and middle states,
must be along the line Of mutton shee
rather than those reared mainly fo
u the clip of wool.
1t With decrease in sheep from yea
Id ago Of 904, 1886, we shall have a d,
in crease in the clip of 4,500,00 pounds
= if we allow five pounds Of wool to
. sheep. Last years clip was 276,0O0
~ 900 pounds according to the estimat
y of the agricultural bureau. Thisyear
x. clip, therefore, must be set down &
27l 100000 pounds. Owing to tn