The advocate., 1897-09-22
OUTLOOK TOR sFFBP FUsBANlRY.

Inc AuVOCdLS Is OL luS OpIulUu LudL
Kansas farmers ought to pay more at
tentiOn than they do to the raising OF
sheep and the production Of wool. Prof
John A. Craig, of the Wisconsin Expert
ment Station, takes a hopeful view Of
the subject, as will be seen by the follow
ing letter in the Breeders Gazette of
some time ago:
"The outlook for the sheep industry
at this time is brighter than it has been
for many decades. If anyone will ar
range such facts as are known to him
under the topics | submit below the
truth Of the foregoing statement will be
more than sustained. Consider the sup
ply, the demand, the prices and the prof
its that have resulted the past year, and
the position Of the industry at this time
will be made evident. In addition there
is another feature that calls for fuller
consideration, and that is the fact that
the industry is on a much wider basis
than it ever has BEEN At no time in
Americas history have so many men
shared in the prospects Of prosperity
in this industry as at present; as the
farmer, the ranchman and the breeder
are all likely to participate in it.
) Consider the supply: In February,
1867, the United States had 1885 1886
head of sheep; January, 1897, there were
but 36,818,643 Thirty years ago the
United States had more sheep than she
has to-day. Since 1872 the number of
sheep increased until it reached the
highest point in our history, namely,
50,626,626 in 1884, and since that year
Io oil or
Consider the demand: In 1867 we
had more sheep than we have now and
only about one-half of the population.
At that time the population Of the United
States was about 35,O00,000 and to-day
it may be estimated at 70,000,000. And
all these people are eating mutton to-day
to greater extent than ever before.
Mutton is now required article Of food
among the American people and they de-
mand it. This population is fixture
to be fed and the sheep and the lambs
are in demand for this purpose.
Consider the prices: The supply be-
ing short, the demand strong, what could
be a surer sequel than for prices to be
high? When punches Of 1000 and 1000
head Of lambs bring 6 cents per pound,
as they did in Chicago last spring, 1t
would seem that the market is prepared
to take a great many at satisfactory
prices These prices are specially favor
able for the Tanchman and the feeder of
Western stock. On the other hand
spring lambs of fifty pounds weight have
been reported ut from to IL cents per
pound in Chicago, and have number
of reports from farmers receiving 6 cents
for spring lambs in their local markets,
and we can report the same as a local
price. These prices are especially ia
VOrable to the farmer and the feeder
in the Central States who cannot rear
matured lambs as cheap as his brother
further west.
Consider the profits: The prices alone
are not to be relied ON to indicate the
profits, as there is the cost of production
to be considered. The low price of such
foods as the sheep feeder needs is gem
eral. Corn, oats, bran, oil meal and
others are very cheap, so that pound of
mutton can be made cheaper to-day than
for many years past. OF course the
farmer who raises his grain does not
find much consolation in this, but it is
a fact that must stand to the credit of
the sheep industry none the less, for 1t
is likely to be the most profitable outlet
for farm grains at the present time.
With such an unusual combination Of
factors small supply, high prices, cheap
foods and several outlets for the product
it is hardly necessary to say anything
further as to the profits and the proba
bility of their permanency.
Consider the diversified markets: A
feature of the sheep farming of to-day
in comparison with that of some years |