The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-31
SHEEP FARMING PAYING
MILLIONS OF LAMBS ON THE
SLOPES OF THE MISSOURI


A Bulletin From the National Live
Stock Association Gives Figures
on the Mutton and Wool Crops
Great Floclxs Arc Now Moving
Eastward-Three-F of the
Sheep of the Country In the West.
Secretary c. F. Martin, of the Ma
tfonal Live Stock association, has just
issued bulletin ON the condition Of
the sheep industry in the Northwest
Theodore l.. Schumacher member Of
the executive committee from Mime
sofa, has just received copy Of the
secretary's report, which canvasses
the situation very thoroughly, giving
the following interesting data:
careful investigation of the sheep
situation develops condition quite
favorable to this branch of the live
stock industry In the territory ly-
ing west Of the Missouri river. In
this section Of the country careful es-
Inmates based upon the best inforna-
ton obtainable, shows that there are
now 3O,200,000, including lambs, out of
a total Of 100000 in the United
States. 1t Is for this reason that In
discussing the sheep situation special
attention must be given to the West.
While the industry as whole was
never In more prosperous condition,
the lamb crop does not show as large
a percentage as usual, due apparently
to two reasons
First, owing to the rapid increa Sc
in the size Of flocks fully 80 per cent
Of the ewes of last years crop being re-
tanned for the purpose of producing
wool, there was a scarcity Of bucks,
the increase in ewes being fully 50
per cent greater than the increase in
male sheep. This had a serious eff
feet on the lamb crop. In addition to
this the universal cold rains during
the Landing season caused a mortal
ity of from Is to So per cent, accord
ing to the location, so it is doubtful If
the per cent of lambs will equal 60
per cent of the number Of ewes which,
being estimated at 17,000 900, would
make the lamb crop about 1O,2OO OOO
All sections report forage the finest
in ten years, and the lambs are larger
and fatter than usual at this time of
the year, the only exception being In
one or two limited sections along the
Pacific coast, where drought has pre-
vailed.
While there are many focks trail
w
there does not appear to be as many
herds moving in the ownership of the
great slaughterers as in former sea-
sons. Nearly all the Western rail-
roads report the usual number of
sheep in transit, especially at grazing
points on mountain divisions, where
flock masters have Increased their
herds from the drought Of the Pacific
coast. The largest number Of this
class reported is located at Wasatch,
and in the Blue mountains of Utah,
where about 10000 sheep are summer
ing. OF this number at least $4,000 are
destined for market, 10000 being held
by two firms According to informa-
ton received direct from owners, how
be marketed this year than last.
The high price of Eastern wool, IA
to IS cents per pound, and the fancy
prices paid for Western alfalfa-fed
lambs on the Eastern markets, makes
1t much more profitable for breeders
to grow wool and lambs than mutton
A liberal estimate Of the number Of
muttons that will go to market this
year from the great West, based on
is placed at from Is to IS per cent of
the total. Last year the figures were
rs per cent, and for the two years pre-
vous 33 per cent.
A new feature expected to be en-
countered in the Western market this
season is demand from the far East
ern states for ewes for breeding pur-
poses. During the depression the wool
and the sheep industry in recent years
Eastern f1ocks were permitted to run
down to a very low point. Under the
present prosperous conditions farmers
are anxious to expand their f1ocks
again, and the consequent demands
70. ,4l, u,
supply will, it is estimated, require
100000 ewes to satisfy
While there is still noticed a DISPOSE
ton to hold on to the ewes and sell
only the wether lambs, it is believed
that the West will be able to furnish
a much larger percentage Of ewes for
market than last year, but they will
go out as stockers rather than feed
ers, and it is expected that they will
command better price from the breed
ers than from the feeders
The outlook for lamb feeding next
winter, as usual at this time of year.
is very much in doubt. In Colorado
next fall the majority of breeders will
seek to secure new Mexican lambs, as
II IT., mas oeen shown by experiment that
this class Of lambs do better and bring
better prices finished than any other
kind. The reason generally attributed
is the fact that lambs from that sec
ton are of medium grade and not
unexpected, and the flesh has not the
oily taste of the finer grades. Many
of the Colorado feeders are raising su-
gar beets this season, and will com
bine them with alfalfa and corn, US
ing corn only to finish and give proper
color. While the feeders report salts
factory returns for last winter, show
ing an average profit of so cents per
head for feeding, there is a growing
sentiment against paying as high
prices as were paid last year. A num-
Der of contracts have already been
made in New Mexico for fall delivery
at prices ranging from s1.25 to 81. rs per
head, and these are about the prices
That the feeders are willing to pay.
1t is too early yet to correctly esti-
mate the wool crop, but it can be said
that the crop this year is fully equal
to last year, and an increase of 10 per
cent Is conservative estimate Prices
being paid are much higher than last
year, and the focks will net handsome
prohts. Prices have been ranging from