The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-31
$4,000 SHEEP FROM MONTANA.
An Excess OF 100, o Over Last Years Ship
m~ents-Iow They Are Fattened.

From the Helena Independent.
The sheep arriving in st. Paul are. in large
proportion. en- route for other markets. They
remain here from between sixty and ninety days.
The men engaged In the business here of feeding
sheep bug the stock in Montana. They lease
the barns for their shelter OF tho stock yards
company. The provendcr is purchased by the
owners themselves from the mills OF Mime
apolis and Duluth, and tho hay comes from the
country tributary to st. Paul. As n rule. the
sheep come in good condition. The Montana
grasses arc rich and nutritious. and the appear
ance of the animals indicates a thrifty and
healthy condition. OF course, when they arrive
they go upon an entirely different diet from that
to which they have been accustomed from their
infancy. There is danger, at first. of ~gorging.
They are gaunt when they come in. so far as
outward APPEARANCES go. though healthy and OF
delicate in their tastes for the altered charractcT
OF nutriment offered them; but within a week
or ten days they take kindly to the new bill OF
fare and do justice toit.
On the other hand, some are SO pleased with
their new conditions OF living that they are like
enough of 1t. Once IN n while this results in an
explosion: the animal practically kills himself
are n fed on light screenings, and after that they
arc supplied with richer grain. sheep might
be laid off at st. Paul for q few days. for in
tRna ranches. and then shipped to the Chicago
market; but the increased weight they had dc.
rived while here would eyGDporate before they
reached their destination That it. not regarded
Us in any sense fattening. 1t is simply feeding
or stuffing. Time is necessary % Effect assimi.
lation OF food and con cDsatiUn into flesh. Thus
the feeding for n period OF sixty or ninety days
becomes n contribution to the weight of the
| animal, which il, In "A certain sense, permanent,
and which cannot be apprcCiably reduced within
a reasonable period of transit.
There are two feeding seasons for sheep here
the autumn aud the spring: At this period of
the year the autumn supply Is coming forward
for feeding and preparation for the winter mar
ket, BY the time this Is exhausted the spring
lots begin 10 arrive. Thus IL happens that by
June /, when the clipping season begins. there
whose winter fcecos are clipped by their owners
in transit to market. This provides an excellent
supply OF wool and Is one material source Of
profit to the feeders nj this station. This indus.
establishment OF tho yards. A local dealer
said yesterday that about $4,000 sheep were
shorn hero last spring, and he estimates that
the number will be largely increased during the
coming season. One OF the largest stock Yards
firms will put in shearing machines for next
years clipping. ! csc machines or instruments
arc something like improved horse clippers.
tricity. Tho work IS accomplished rapidly.
The sheep are shOrn with great uniformity and
without the cutting Of the skin and flesh 50
often resui,ins from nno shG hn nne methods which
There is u breeding at these !eCuing stations.
and lambs are rarely dropped. The stock that
comes forward consists, for the most part, OF
for mutton uses. The ewes are retained ON the
ranches until they are from d to ! years old
when they are sent to market as an inferior
grade for mutton product.
Only small percentage OF the sheen fed hert
are sold for local use, probably not moro than IL
per cent. Tho indications arc. AT present, that
about 100000 sheep will be fed here during thi'
season. when will be something like an excess
OF 100000 over the last years number. and ii IL
believed that at least 80 per cent. more thai
last year will be fed at the southSt Paul station