The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-07

dence in Billings and it has gradually
grown each year. During the past
year we have cared for about 2O0,O 900
head of lambs. About four years ago
it was freely predicted that we would
soon Ne raising too much alfalfa, but
there has not been a year that all
we raised was not consumed and the
present winter will clean up all we
have now OF hand. My observation
is that this business has been very
profitable for the range man, the far
mer and the banker and general bust
ness conditions also. For the range
man it furnishes a market for his
lambs. in the early fall months anu
generally at a. price that makes them
worth to him more at that age than
at any other. To the farmer it ena-
bles him to realize more for his crop
than he can by any other method
To the banker it gives a gilt-edge loan.
AS a banker l have been instrument.
tai in helping to build up such a coed
business for our farmers. From ,uy
present point of vision it appears to
me that our range business is in it's
last stage and what will occur in the
coming years will be, only an enlarge
ment of the business on the above
lines. The arid lands If the western
states are going to be reclaimed and
irrigated some day and 7 hope the
time is not far distant, and with the
tilling of the soil a large quantity Of
feed will be the result and sheep will
be the easiest and most profitable
animal to care for.
During the past winter I nave fed
about $4,000 head of lambs which ]
have fed not with a view of %fattening
for market. but to place on the range
in the spring. My experience has
been that the farmer did not make a
very successful sheepman, and | have
always advised selling in the spring
to people who made a business of run
ming sheep on the range. 1t is usually
the case that the farmer has little
or no range to run them upon near at
home and if he undertakes to hunt up
range it takes him 2 long WAYS from
home, divides his business, as his farm
demands attention at this time Of the
ear. The advance over fall prices
of lambs has been about $1.0G for
April delivery. and at this figure it
gives the farmer a good price fzr his
hay and as he has done we'll enough
to turn off his crop at a fair figure !
have found that those who followed
this advice have done better than
those that have attempted to gain
more by keeping over until fall, en-
pecting to sell their yearlings to bet
ter advantage. I have found that
portant item and some of our farmers
have been hampered more on this ac-
count than from a shortage of feed.
During my operations I have insisted
on a full water supply where I have
fed as l find a short supply makes
thin, poor animals. dried up wool and
a general unhealthy condition.
I'VE have neve gone into the bust
ness for a finished product, although
an eastern feeder who had a lot of
sheep fed on contract was able to
dispose Of a lot of wethers to a Seattle
buyer last season at about 81 per head
profit over what he paid the farmer
for feeding. With the lowering of
freight rates from Dakota and Nebras-
ka we hope to be able to get grain in
to valley to feed with our alfalfa
and when this is secured we will be
able to boast of a feeding district
equal to the famous Fort Collins dis
trict. Until this is accomplished l
think the most profitable way to feed
is to just feed enough hay to keep |
the sheep in a good thrifty growing
condition and depend on free grass
for putting them in a finished state.
CAS- to the details of feeding sheep
] have not done the work myself and |
nave uOI Deen on the fdnCn very long
at a time so as to acquaint myself
with the actual work, and as to this |
feature Of the business l am pleased |
to inform you that my friend, Mr.. 1.
D. O'Donnell, will give you a talk
along these lines and I am sure thai
you will be well entertained, as he
has bppn orr fOremoct fornar apd hoe
made a study of the sheep business
in all it's phases, and l assure you that
you will not regret giving him close
attention"
l.. d. O'Donnell read a paper on
sheep feeding. The papers of both
Mr.. Moss and Mr. O'Donnell received
warm nraiSe.