Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-01-29
OREGON SHEEP ARE BEST
Such Is Judgment of Ohio Breeder
Expert and Writer.

Expert and Writer.
A. A. Bates, of Ohio, left Saturday
night for home, after having attended
the livestock convention in Portland
acted as judge Of sheep at the Dallas
Livestock Show, and visited several
localities in this state to study the
sheep industry. He is a writer fol
the American Sheep Breeder, one OF
the leading journals of that branch OF
the livestock industry, and is himself
breeder Of fancy stock. His high
opinion of Oregon will therefore be
effective in deciding breeders through
out the country where conditions are
unfavorable to look in this direction
for locations, and those whose fiocks
need improvement will turn to Oregon
for strong, healthy animals. He said /:
my observations have convinced
me that Oregon is the best place in
the United States for breeding sheep
and goats. With an abundance Of
green stuff, mild climate and every
advantage for production of the best
foodstuffs to make prime mutton,
there is no other place to compare with
it, Lambing is early and the lambs
can have the best of range, going to
higher attitudes as the season adj
vances, where they have an abundance
of shade, pure water and at all periods
plenty of fresh grass, stimulating
growth and making itpossible to grow
the largest, soundest animals I have
ever found in any locality.
GOOD GRADE OF SHEEP
''The grade of stock grown is also
good. The Baldwin Sheep and Land
Company, in Eastern Oregon, in
Crook County, have some of the finest
rams I have seen. Moreover, the
climate seems particularly we'll adapt
ed to the best development and growth.
The rains wash the wool clean and
there is extraordinary freedom from
diseases that beset fioeks in some pof-
tions of the country, where more
severe weather occurs.
"Oregon is rapidly becoming the
breeding ground for the best classes
of sheep in the country. 1t is today
the breeding ground for the supply
demanded in Middle States feeding
lots, because there is no other place
where such a large percentage of
lambs can be saved.
''It may not be generally known,
even here in Oregon, but the William
ette Valley is the only place in America
where long-wool sheep can be grown
successfully. I have seen flocks Of
the long-wool varieties that could not
be excelled in England, and Great
Britain has been given credit for the
best in the world in that line. When |
the Oregon breeders fully realize their
valuable advantages for this breed
ing, the rest of the country will come
here instead of going abroad for rams.
The wool is of the best fiber, clean and
long, and the animals attain greater
weight than elsewhere. There were
some animals at the Dallas show that
could not be surpassed anywhere.
GOATS DO WELL HERE.
81 have paid some attention to goats
also, but my visit to Oregon has been
the means of giving me some con-
ception Of the importance to which
that branch of the livestock industry
has come. There were 20 exhibitors
of goats at Dallas, having some 60
animals. I have never seen better,
and they were Of greater weight and
produce better mohair than those of
the Southwest. The fiber is longer
and Of good quality, while their skin
is white and free from blemish, the
mohair commanding a higher price
in the market than is paid for mohair
grown in other sections.
''The sheep breeding business is in
its infancy here, as it is throughout
the country, and growers are just be-
ginning to grasp the details that
should be adopted and mean most for
it's future. In the Willamette Valley
there are more of such animals grown
5hap in any other farming region of
the country But the farmers should
adopt some lessons from their English
10 h1oNc |
and other succulent roots and grains
can be produced in abundance. By
feeding these things properly mutton
can be made Of flavor to command
5he highest market prices. In Great
Britain mutton for certain consump-
ion is fed entirely on certain rations.
some people laugh at the idea, but it
IS proved beyond dispute"