, 1898-07-25

A careful canvass OF the sheep Sltu-
alton develops a condition quite favor
able to this branch of the live stock
the Missouri river. In this section of
the country careful eltimates, based
upon the best information O~btainable.
shows that there are now 80, 200 900
including lambs. out of a total
II 600. 900 in the United States. 1t is
for this reason hal in discussing the
sheep situation. special attention must
of necessity be given the west.
While the industry as a whole was
never in a more prosperous condition,
the lamb crop does not SHOW as large
a percentage as usual. due apparently
to We reasons: First-Owing to the
rapid increase in the size of nocks,
fully 80 per cent of the ewes of last
years lamb crop being retained for the
purpose of producing wool, there was a
scarcity of bucks. the increase in ewes
being fully 80 per cent greater than the
increase in male sheep. This had a
serious effect On the lamb crop. In
addition to this. the universal cold
rains during the lambing season caus-
ed a mortality of from 10 to 80 per cent.
according to location. so it is doubtful
if the Fer cen of lambs will equal 60
per cent of the number Of ewes, which.
| 1,;rr ,-.;,,n,11 % - nnn nnn ,--,Il
make the lamb crop about 10, 200, 900.
All sections report forage the finest
in ten years. and the lambs are larger
and fatter than usual at this time of
year, the only exception being in one
or two limited sections along the Pa
cific coast where drouth has prevailed.
While there are many tlOcks trailing
eastward from the Pacific slope, there
does not appear to be as many herds
moving in the ownership of the great
S~laughterers as in former seasons.
Nearly all the western railroads report
about the usual number Of "sheep-in-
transit" especially at grazing points on
III
ers have increased their herds from the
drouth districts of the Pacific coast.
The largest number of this class re-
ported are located in the Wasatch and
Blue mountains of Utah, where about
10. 900 sheep are summering. Of this
number at least 10000 are destined for
market. 10000 being held by two firms.
According to information received di-
rect from owners, however, it appears
that less sheep will be marketed this
year than last. The high price of west
ern wool, IA to is cents per pound. and
the fancy price paid for western alfalfa
fed lambs on the eastern markets,
makes it much more profitable for
breeders to grow wool and lambs than
mutton. A liberal estimate of the
number of muttons hal will go to
market this year from the great west.
based upon Information received from
all sections, is placed at from 10 to IS
per cent of the total. Last year the
figures were 25 per cent, and for two
years previous, SO per cent.
\ new feature expected to be en-
cOuntered in the eastern markets this
season is a demand in the far eastern
states for ewes for breeding purposes.
During the depression of the wool and
sheep industry in recent years, eastern
| flnaly. u-nrn ,,arp, ;.,nJ -, ,,, l-.a
very low point. Under the present
prosperous condition, farmers are
anxious to expand their flocks again.
and the consequent demand for ewes,
which the west will have to supply.
will, it is estimated, require over 800
600 ewes to satisfy.
While there is still noticed a dispo-
sition to hold on to the ewes and 10
sell only the wether lambs, it is believ-
ed the west will be able to furnish a
much large percentage of ewes for
market than last year. but they will go
out as stockers rather than feeders. as
it is expected they will command a bet
ter price from the breeders than from
the feeders.
The out.o'h for lamb feeding next
winter, as usual at this time of year,
is very much in doubt. In Colorado
next fail, the majority of breeders will
seek to secure New Mexican lambs, as
it has been shown by experiment that
this class of lambs do better and bring
a better price finished than any other
kind. The reason generally attributed
are Of a medium grade, not thick pelt-
ed, and the flesh has not the oily taste
Of the finer grades. Many of the Col