The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-04-20
LOOK FOR HEAVY
LOSS OF SHEEP
Disease Now Dscimating the
FIOCks of Utah
WAS BAD WINTER FOR THEM
IT is FEARED THAT 100000
HEAD May DIE.

n EIW ZEN the raNagcs of an un-
n usually severe winter and the
breaking out of malignant
disease among their docks within
the past few weeks. The sheepmeu
Of Utah, southern Idaho ana eastern
Nevada are afraid that their losses. by
the time they get their sheep TO- gh-
summer feeding grounds. VIII be about
% per cent of the number they had last
tan. In addition to that. the owners
are put 90 the additional expense OF
shipping their nocks 90 The grazing
lands instead OF driving. The winter
left the n0cks in such "a dehiitatad coa-
dluOn that the sheep are unable to
stand The long overland marches 90
good pastures ana plenty oil water.
I'm more Instances that one the losses
sustained during the winter, coupled
with the extra expense of trying -u
save the iocks by feeding them ON hay
hauled 90 The winter camps ON slelgls,
and the losses which are occurring
through the ravages uf "bIg head" #Ill
practically bankrupt the owners OF
herds. There is not sheeDmau I'm
either OF the three states. SO ir Is said.
who viii not sustain losses greater than
his profits of last season.
big Head is Spreading
tn the spread of "big head" continues
much longer lL l5 feared Che sheep loss
ln Utah alone win Dee more than 100000
mead, due 90 DO and the bad winter lt 's
estimated there were about 100000 head
OF sheep i'm Utah last fam The loss dun
ING the winter. which was a record
breaker, averaged nearly -5 per cent
among all the focks. DO would not sur-
prise many of the slceUmeu should the
losses.
That means am unprecedented disaster
90 Utah sheep owners. II the same cuuul-
tons exist iu Idaho and Nevada as they
and there are rumors TO that effect. the
losses lu those commonwealth VIII un
the same. making am a2sresate loss ~
sheep since last lall Of about -.U.LJu head.
Its equal has never been recorded la the
history of the three states
Speaking uf tne matter yesterday.
James a.. Lelry. president or the stock
yards company, said that reports received
at the yards indicate "a loss last winter
OF sheep agsreeatlug - per cent. The
winter leIt the sheep ln weakened t0--
dluOu. 10 was only the hardy ones that
survived the severe storms and the pro-
l0nged scarcity of food OF the herds
which We're favored by being supplied
with plenty Of hay OF we've grazing lu
the few Isolated valleys which did net
suffer as most of the others did from
the bad snOWst0rms.
Cannot Stand Disease.
Debuitated by the hard winter the
survivors of the fi0cks were Boz no c5uuI-
ton TO withstand the "bIs head when
III made its appearance Few weeks ago.
The result Isl that sheep are dying 1E che
thousands AN over the state. And they
viii continue 90 drop Off like flies chilled
Go death 0y the carly frneI- ot tal uuAl
Che disease runs ltteG ouJ OF ls checked
by VeterIua riaus.
When winter began 10 break. sheepmfn
ATTEMPTED 90 drive their Il1cks TO the
summer feeding grounds. To dlC not take
the owners long 10 discover that THAI was
impossible where great distances had %
be- covered because the sheep were In
uo condition LO travels they were TOO
weak and thin. There was uo alternative
but 20 ship them via rail ass Iar as pos
sible MT. Lelry said Yesterday tlat
within the next few weeks ne expected
that his yards alone Would hauulg De-
tween 100000 and 100000 head ~ she.p D.
AN en- route To- the Ma-alen or otAer SUM
mer feeding grounds
o. will De- some weeks before ul-LNl-'
figures can ba u-rertaIu.l as Co me losses
which win have resulted from the Dig
head" but Ir they continue the next Few
weeks as they have during the past i"'
or three the total losses for the winter
and snriuu JO tho sHrenmen VIII De- oal-
rerOusly close fu aH per- cent OF iheH
original U0ek4 o. means bankruptcy luI
some of the smaller owners and Dug
losses which viii take O. year or lH"
t0 recupcrato for The larger herd owner