Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-07-29
YEARLY COST
OF ONE SHEEP
~. c. Ewing In a Paper Before Wool.
growers association Places II
at One Dollar.
FARMING DECREASES EXPENSE
Will Reduce the Cost Of Supplying
Farm Hands With Food-other
Necessary OUTLAWS.


ing Of the North Montana Woolgrow.
ers' association, H. C. Ewing, of this
city, read the following paper on "The
Cost OF Running Sheep Twelve
Months:
This is a topic which 1t is possible
to discuss only on the most general
terms for several reasons The tx
pense will and does vary with the dis
lance from the market for supplies and
for the product; vary with the capac-
ity Of the ranch to produce hay for
the sheep and grain for the otner
stock; with the value of labor in the
locality; will depend upon the amount
OF hay necessary to feed the sheep,
some sections ( Montana requiring
more hay than others; and the vary
ing conditions I the seasons of our
state make appreciate differences In
the expenses. True, there are com
~pensating features In all these differ.
ent items, as the long distance from
market may be counter balanced by
a smaller rent roll and shorter list
of patented land; the higher cost OF
labor by more abundant crops of hay
and greater ease Of harvesting them.
And so, ! say, that while the figures
| may give may not agree with the
exact results of the experience of any.
n present, yet as a composite esti-
mate OF the various sections of North
ern Montana we believe they will be
not far from the truth.
The first and largest item on the
ledger is the labor account. AS this
item is the most serious of the ex-
penses so the question of men Is al
SO the most serious to the sheepman
or his foreman. The general charac-
ter of the men who have to be employ
ed renders the labor and It's cost 0
problem to all sheepmen. The men
are not, as a rule, at all conscientious
as to the service to be rendered their
employer; not SO much so as the av.
erage employe, perhaps. The story
is told Of a pilgrim who was sent out
to herd sheep and a few days later
the camp tender found him sitting un-
concernedly in his tent in the middle
of the day. To the question as to
why he was not out with his sheep
he replied that he would have to bring
him out some more sheep, as he had
lost the last of the Dand the day be-
fuIe. On the other hand. thora are
some who are faithful even to the
risk of their own lives, diligent to the
limit, and who conscientiously watch
their employers interests as they
would their own. I was told a few
days ago the story of another pilgrim
who was set to herding a dry band,
who. when the owner visited him one
evening after he had corraled, was
asked II the sheep gave him any
trouble in getting them into the cor
raj, replied that none Of them gave
him any trouble except a lamb that
was in his band. The owner, express.
ing surprise to learn that there was
a lamb with the sheep, was met with
the assurance that there was one, for
he had had a hard chase to get him
into the corral, and taking the owner
out showed him q jack rabbit that
he had succeeded in running In with
the sheep. uBt such diligence is not
the usual thing, and as conditions ex-
list 1t is costing sheepmen about four
cents per head per month for every
sheep they run, on the labor item
alone. This may cen on first thought
to be too high a figure, but when the
hay crews, lambing crews, teamsters
and extra help of all kinds are consid-
cred you can easily see that the esti-
mate of the cost is not placed too
high.
The next item is the cost OF the pro-
visions for the men. To feed the men
costs about IN cents per month for
every sheep run. Others who have
spoken to you and will speak have
made and will make suggestions as to
Ways of increasing the income or Of
decreasing expenses, and | feel like
saying that the ranch owners could
materially reduce this item OF ex-
pense by maintaining a well cared for
garden and potato patch In connec-
ton with their property. l believe
there is no ranch In Northern Montana
but can grow its own potatoes, on
ions, cabbages and all other staple
vegetables both for summer use and
winter storage. From what l have
observed, there is too little attention
given to the truck patch and too much
money paid out for canned goods.
A sheepman said not long ago that
every pound of pork and lard that he
raised cost him so cents. Inquiry Oh
others reveals the fact that they are
raising pork at practically no cost by
the use of a little feed ground In con-
nection with alfalfa grass In summer
and alfalfa hay In winter, and the
kitchen refuse, which thus becomes
of value instead of a nuisance. A COW
is cheaper than condensed milk, and
the calf becomes of beef value almost
while we are thinking about 1t, and
all at a nominal cost.
Rents have become a no inconsid-
cradle portion of the expense In the
last few years. The amount OF land
rented by different owners varies per
haps more than other item, but then
again on the basis of the 3-band ranch,
| believe 1t is safe to say that the
average rent roll will be not far from
q cent per head per month LOT every
head of sheep.
Shearing-The average cost OF
shearing, including the labor neces-
sary at the pens for handling the
sheep and the wool, together with the
cost of sacks and twine. will be about
~ cents per head, or, IL spread over
the year, 1 cent per head per month.
Taxes-The taxes on zach head OF
sheep will average ABOUT 5 cents, and
the tax on ranch property will make
about 4 cents more, or Y cent per
head per month.
~Supplies-By this Item Is meant to
be included grain for the stock, coal
and seed for the cultivated land, lum-
Der and posts for the repair OF the
buildings and fences, broken, worn
out and lost tools replaced, and the
cost OF repairing wagons, harness and
machinery. This item amounts to
..E o,n o. the nourQa af n wear