East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-11-10

erSdlcateu from among the flocks OF
Oregon. Our records for the year
show that scabies was found in Lake
county, the extreme southern part of
Malheur county, and one band in
Umatilla county. These infected
sheep have all been dipped twice un-
der federal supervision, and we have
reason to hope that the coming year
will show few If any infected sheep.
Our efforts among the small flock
masters of the Willamette valley
seem to have also been successful for
no scabies has been reported from
that section during the past five
months. TIL eradication of this dis
ease at that point means much to the
sheepmen of the entire west, for the
natural adaptability of the valley to
the raising of long and middle
wooled sheep would seem to indicate
that in the immediate future it will
become the greatest breeding ground
for the range buck in the entire
country.
Praises Sheep Commission.
The credit for the eradication of
scabies does not in my judgment
rest with my department, for your
board of sheep commissioners and
state sheep inspector have been Wig
liant at all times and have granted us
the fullest possible degree of cooper
alton, and whenever we have called
upon them for assistance they have
furnished 1t most cheerfully. 1t has
indeed been a pleasure to have been
| permitted to cooperate with these Of
ficers who are endeavoring to do so
much for the well being of your in
dustry. But in sharing the credit for
the eradication of scabies with your
sheep inspector and board of sheep
commissioners, I feel that there is
still another party to whom nearly
all of the credit should rightfully be
given-and that party is the sheep
men of Oregon.
No Disease i'm Eastern Oregon.
The sheep industry of eastern Ore
gon is most happily situated so far as
the prevalence of serious diseases
among sheep are concerned. It
would appear that your climate is as
nearly ideal for sheep husbandry as
could be obtained. for it furnishes the
two great natural healthgivers-sun-
shine and dryness-in excessive
abundance. 1t is a matter of tradi-
tion that rain and cloudy weather rob
the flockmen of more profits in dis
tricts where they prevail than any
n cin no1a 10 acfa
sheep suffer from no diseases of con-
sequence like those which prevail
throughout the great south and mid
die west.
Your sheep have a little foot-rot
but not sufficient to be of serious
CONSEQUENCE and even that which you
have may easily be eradicated.
Ma Cause for Alarm.
Lip and Leg disease, which is now
receiving so much attention in Wyo-
ming, I believe does not prevail
among Oregon flocks but should it
make its appearance alarm need not
be felt for it readily yields to treat
ment
: The particular advantage which
you enjoy is the freedom of your
flocks from internal parasites such
as tapeworm and liver flukes. In
western Oregon the pests are numer-
Gus and cause flockmasters consid-
cradle annoyance. but even II sheep
affected with these worms are turned
upon your sunburnt range they could
not seriously infect it.
Sheep Immune from Disease.
Sheep are immune to many of the |
more important contagious diseases, |
but they readily succumb to infec-
tions of animal parasites. 1t is this !
freedom from internal parasites that |
gives the eastern Oregon flockmaster
an advantage over the sheep breed
ers of eastern states. This advantage
is of no small concern and in my
judgment is the main factor in max
ing the range sheep industry profit
able. Were it not for stomach worms
the middle west would alone have
more sheep today than the whole
country now possesses. But fortu-
nately for you these eastern pastures
after one or two years of sheeping
become so infested with stomach
worms that the profitable grazing of
sheep Is forbidden at least until the
field has had years rest. Were 1t
not for this trouble the middle west
would today be the greatest sheep
breeding ground in the world; and
theirs flocks would make themselves
felt in reduction of the profits Of
western sheepmen.
The man who seeks breeding sheep
free from parasites and diseases must s
only find them on the sun-kissed
ranges of some four or five western 1
states, among which Oregon is one |
IF the most important. !
WoOlgrowers Congratulated. I
In closing allow me to congratulate |
,ou upon the prosperity that your in I
lustry now enjoys and upon the silvery I
.louds that seem to line your path for t
he next few years. Nothing has come q
,r will come to you except that to @
which you are justly entitled. The lot b
" the flockmaster has never been
pleasant for eternal vigilance and la I
,or have characterized both his suc-
esses and failures.
Your influence in the community
las been mighty factor in the settle
lent and development of our state q
nd those who now enjoy the fruits
{ tilling the soil and the merchant
-ho sells them their wares should not
oroat thot tho hurnh1e chanhard and +.