Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-12-16
For EFome Feedima

The secretary Of agriculture in his recent annual
report, made the statement that the number of sheep IN
the United states is declining. The governor Of New
Mexico in his last report to the secretary of the interior,
estimated the number of sheep shipped from the terri
tory during the year at 100000. The market reports
for yesterday showed that in the Chicago and Kansas
City markets muttons varied between "a and So, and
lambs between So and IS. Several conclusions may be
deduced from the combination Of the foregoing facts.
The first of these is that the price Of sheep is not
likely to decline for several years. Sheep must increase
in value for a number Of years, during which the decline
will first be retarded, then balanced, and finally increase
will gain control. Can New Mexico materially enlarge
the aggregate Of her docks? The present total, &C
cording to the secretary of the interior, is nearly six
miilions-5S75O0 head, to be exact. 1t is doubtful If
there can be much increase in range production, espec-
tally as the unprecedented value of lambs will Of neces-
sity stimulate the sale of the young stock.
How, then. can New Mexico avail herself most largely
of the growing prices for sheep? OF course, the demand
for slaughter and the constantly increasing price of fed
stock will increase the demand for and the price of stock
for feeding. But this is the small end of the proht.
The very best of New Mexico lambs, bought in the terri
tory or at the centers of sale for feeders, did not yield
to the raiser during the past season as much as 50,
though there were an exceptional few which gained that
point. No doubt many of these three dollar lambs are
among those now selling for IS. Who gets the IS diff
ference? The feeder. Why do not New Mexico sheep
men become feeders? There certainly must be money
in so doing. else the feeders would cease purchasing the
stock for feeding purposes. Where are the largest part
of New Mexico feeders prepared for market? Colorado.
Here is what is said of Colorado:
colorado has the reputation of turning out the finest
mutton made. The process of feeding lambs in Colorado
feed lots, combined with the fine climate. has the effect
of producing a meat that is without the old sheep havor
which for years made mutton unpopular in this country
At the coming Western Live Stock show in Denver the
week of January goth, it is expected that a fine show OF
these lambs will be made, including some choice speci-
mems from the San Luis valley, wnere they are fed on
peas. A fine opportunity will be given to compare the
pea-fed meat with that of the corn-fed and pulp-fed
tsugar beet. The competition will be between the san
Luis valley and the Fort Collins district. There is con-
siderable rivalry between the two districts as to which
produces the best mutton
Again it is said: "Al over the west stockmen are
experimenting in the growing of beets. Some who have
experimental in growing beets this past season, as yet
are too far from a sugar factory to make them a profit
able crop to market, but they are using them as a stocl
food and, it is said, with remarkable results. Fed will
barley or oats, or even wheat, the sugar beet makes al
ideal stock ration and many western men who have
never thought of finishing their cattle will this winter
market beef instead of feeders
One more quotation: The cultivation of the lowl!
feId-pea in the San Luis valley is said to have solved
the problem Of profitable pork production in Colorado
1t is declared that a drove of more than 100000 hogs car
be fattened in that district, and if this proves true it vii
add to the agricultural wealth of the state a sum ex
ceeding Sc 00,000 annually. Already large Shipment
into the valley have been made from the northern par
of the state and the Arkansas valley. The animals vii
be turned into the pea fields and will live practically will
until spring, when they will be ready for the market
Scarcely any attention will be required for them beyon'
seeing that they have sufficient water. This introduc
ton of the hog Industry on such a large scale Will slim
ulate the raising of pork all over the state. In conjunc
ton with the feld-pea the sugar beet has been found t
be a wonderfully fattening food, besides making the hes
firm and putting the animal in frst-class shape for IN
market. Alfalfa also is discovered to be an exception
ally good food, but It is not all-suhicient"
New Mexico has the turn on Colorado in climate an
the possible production of alfalfa, beets, and no doubt ais
of peas. That peas can be so a%bundantly produced !
the San Luis valley, on the upper waters of the Ri
Grande, in Colorado, where hundreds of thousands q
sheep have this year been fatted for market. is proc
presumptive that the same thing can be done on the RI
Grande and it's tributaries in New Mexico.
Another advantage New Mexico possesses as a shee
fattening country, is that her feeding grounds would b
near her ranges, saving one shipment between rearin
and marketing. Then think of the greatly increase
profit to the sheep man, in combining rearing and fat
tening. as well as all the money which would be kept
New Mexico and be distributed here at home by tn
large addition 10 her agricultural resources. AS apprC
pirate at this time and to, this question, The Citize
quotes the following from the last report of the secretaI
Of agriculture:
One of the most valuable cereals for feeding
sheep. hogs, and chickens is the Russian prose-, or broom
corn milet. Several varieties of this cereal were il
trodueed from Russia in 1899, at least two being mo
drought resisting and otherwise better adapted to q
northwestern states than any varieties of this mill
heretofore grown in this country. 1t is particular
adapted for sheep feeding. Better varieties of emm
toften called spelt) have also been established by u
department in the semi-arid districts. This crop al
resists drought to a great degree, and certain vaTieti
the hardest winter wheats. The emmer and prose- L
gether afford an immense amount of grain and stra
for stock feeding in dry localities, where very little fe
of any other kind can be produced"
Finally, The Citizen feels confident that the hnanci
institutions of the territory would aid the movement +
dicated by advancing to the feeder the necessary aid
getting his stock to market.