The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-20

Of the first who commenced the busi-
ness OF fattening sheep for the market
I'm the west
Sometimes I feel that am. SO To
speak, talked out" on the subject. but
with new audience such as have be-
fore me today my remarks. / hope. may
not prove altogether tiresome.
have entitled my paper "conserva-
tism In Sheep Feeding" believing as /
do that ut this time OF high prices for
sheep and wool we should carry on the
business on conservative lines
need not tell you that I am one OF
your adopted fellow citizens, although
! claim To be as loyal an American as
those OF you who were born under the
stars aud stripcc.
Landing In Nebraska In the year 1874.
/ went To raising sheep FOR the wool on
the then open prairie. Conditions soon
changed. however The country set
tied up very rapidly and we were soon
confined TO our own land. which pre-
cluded the grazing OF large bands OF
sheep. and we had TO change our op-
crations To the raising OF corn and hay
for feed. aud TO depend on the sheep
breeders OF the western states and ter
ritories To raise and furnish US the
feeders.
In those days We had no college pro-
fessors and experiment stations Co lind
out Cor us and tell us how things on
the farm should be done. how sheep and
cattle should be fed and what consti-
tutcs so-called balanced ration" Tor
animals. However. we soon found out
that two-thirds OF shelled corn with
one-third OF oats. by measure. and n
little bran or oil meal added as an
appetizer and plenty OF good bright
prairie hay would make very Tat sheep
la about four months careful feeding.
We had only the Chicago market those
dnys. and that was limited. Well do j
remember the time when a run OF 5000
head OF sheep I'm the Chicago yards
would swamp the market.
shall dwell upon the subject OF mar
kets later on and Will only say here
that since then the American people
have learned not only TO cook mutton.
but also To appreciate this. the cleanest
and most healthful OF all flesh foods.
Your state. as / understand II. IL
just starting In the business OF feeding
sheep and lambs. and as your climatic
and crop conditions are very similar To
those OF Nebraska, see no reason why
you should not succeed equally well.
provided you exercise conservatism.
The American people have one great
characteristic. II certain business
has paid well for year or two they
rush In and soon cause an oyersupply
~ the commodity. To the new Begin
ner / would say try few carloads,
and II you find yourself adapted To the
business. IL you like sheep and sheep
like you, stick To- Il. even IL the first
venture should not be SO very profit
able. To the old feeder / have no adj
vice 10 offer. as he probably knows
more about II than 1 do myself. but
have seen old feeders who fed several
hundred head very successfully fail
when they multiplied the number by
ten or twenty.
The first essential In feeding sheep OF
course. IN n never failing supply of good
clear water. We have a well. wind
mill and large supply tank for every
the small tanks out OF which the sheep
drink under the shed I'm such n way
that one OF them Will supply two lots.
by putting them under cover they will
not be liable TO freeze over. and IL you
bank them up we'll with manure and
have tight cover you will be but lit
tie bothered by ice.
have always believed in sheds open
TO the south. and we have enough OF
shed room for all OF our sheep. Some
feeders think differently, but / can
sleep better and feel easier during n
sleet or snowstorm when 1 know my
sheep are dry and comfortable. IA
vor n comparatively narrow shed-say
20 TO - feet underwriting along the
north side OF the pens In this way you
obtain n great deal OF shelter. About
three TO three and one-half square feet
per sheep Is ample room To figure on In
building your shed. A well constructed
pole and straw shed answers the pur-
pose very well.
The purchase or your feeders Is the
first important thing after you are
ready for them. and nowhere Is the
old adage more true that IA thing well
bought Is half sold"
Usually there is time in the fall
when you can buy wcthers. ewes and
lambs 1T the river markets cheaper
than on the range. and l would espe-
-tally recommend this course TO the new
beginner. who only feeds few loads.
Go TO n reliable commission house
which makes sheep a speciality, and tell
them what you want. or course n good
plan n to be there yourself and see
what you buy. but they will generally
save you much more than their COM
mission In making the deal for you.
II you buy on the range, be sure and
buy by weight, as In almost all cases
sheep are oyerestimated when bought
On the prairie.
Although scabies. the dread OF sheep
men. is now well under control. thanks
% the efficient services rendered by the
department OF agriculture. and espe-
,ially by DR.. Salmon and his able corps
u assistants. II Is best TO have your
sheep dipped before shipping them into
the country. Where several thousand
are being fed n dipping plant should be
built, by all means, as scab may break
out at any time.
There are several good prepared dips
on the market. and the old lime and
sulphur dip. although sure cure. Is
now seldom used I'm the feed lots.
We generally manage TO run our
bands I'm the cornstnlks and cornflclds
for n month or so before putting them
up. One man who understands his
business and has a well trained dog will
easily herd 5000 head. he sure and
have them well filled before you turn
them into an unhusked cornfield. and
never let them get hungry. A band OF
big wethers are splendid huSkers. and
besides cleaning the field thoroughly
they board themselves.
When putting them up for good we
10 not like TO have more than 500 In "A
OF. and 800 Is still better. We always
Keep salt before them. IL the sheep
have been In the corn field they will
eat the corn In the yards ut once and
there IL little danger or overlooking. II
cot. they should be started slowly. and
the ration increased gradually until
they cat about a pound and half per
lay
A. mentioned before. ration Of
shelied corr and oats. with little bran
or neal IA my fayorite ration. We feed