Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1903-04-22
HEAVY LOSS
OF SHEEP
SHEEPMEN OF NEVADA, UTAH
AND IDAHO SUFFER
It is Feared that 100000
Head May Die.

Between the ravages of an UNUSUAL,
severe winter and the breaking out OF
malignant disease among thei,
hooks within the past few weeks. the
| sheepmen of Utah, southern Idaho and
/ eastern Nevada are afraid that their
Losses, by the time they get the sheen
to the summer ranges, will be abou,
hnT per cent of the number they had
last fall. In addition to that, the own.
ers are put to the additional expense
I IT shipping their flocks to the grazing
lands instead of driving. The winter
LETT the flOcks In such a debilitated
condition that the sheep are unable to
stand the long overland marches to
good pastures and plenty of water.
In more instances than one the loss
es sustained during the winter, cou-
pied with the extra expense of tr, ing
to save flocks by feeding them on hay
hauled to the winter camps on sleighs
and the losses which ae occurring
through the ravages of big head. ;"
will practically bankrupt the owners
OF herds. There is not a sheep man
in either Of the three States who will
not sustain losses greater than his
porfits of last year.
Ii the spread of big head contin-
ues much longer, it is feared the sheep
loss in Utah alone, save the Salt Lake
Herald, will be more than 1000 900
head. due to it and the bad winter.
1t is estimated that there were about
100000 head of sheep in Utah last
fall. The loss during the winter
which was record breaker, averaged
nearly IS per cent among all the
focks. 1t would not surprise MANY of
the sheep men should the deaths from
big head equal the winter losses.
That means an unprecedented dis
aster to Utah sheep owners. If the
same conditions exist in Idaho and Ne
vada as they do in that State as re-
CARDS big head" and there are ru-
mors to that effect. the losses in those
sommonwealths will be the same, max.
ing an aggregate loss since last fall of
about 2,OOO,OOO head. Its equal has
never been recorded in the history
of the three States.
The winter left the sheep in a weak |
ened condition. 1t was only the hear |
ty ones that survived the eevnre
storms and the prolonged sca-ci J, of
food, or the herds which were favored
by being supplied with plenty of lay
or were grazing in the few isolated;
valleys which did not suffer as most If
the others did from the bad snow
storms
When the winter began to break
sheepmen began to drive their tiocEs
to the sumer feeding grounds. It all
not take long to discover that it was
where great distances had
to be covered, because the sheen we,n
In no condition to travel. Thew were
too weak and thin. There was no al.
tentative but to ship them via rail- as
far as possible.
IL Will be some weeks before def
mite figures can be ascertained as to
the losses whoch will have resulted
from the big head" but if they con-
tlnue as they have during the past two :
Or three, the total losses to the sheen
men Tor the winter and spring will
be dangerously close to so per cent of
Inelr original focks. It means bank ;
ruptcy for some of the smaller own
ers, and big losses, which take a wear s
Or two to recuperate, for the larger .
herd owners. ,