East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-05-08

A comprehensive review of the
sheep industry of the United States
has been written by C. II. Shurte, a
formerly well-known oregon man
who is now with the Knolin Sheep
Commission company of Chicago.
Having had 25 years experience in the
sheep business his opinion is consid-
cred of value by the wool men of the
nation.
His review is as follows:
This seasons marketing of fed
sheep and lambs is drawing to a close
and the question arises, has the feed
er made any money? We know that
this year the feeder put into his feed
lots sheep and lambs we'll worth the
money compared with one year ago.
I believe every feeder made some
money excepting the new or inexperi-
enced ones and even they are better
off, probably not from a financial
standpoint but they have learned
some things about feeding sheep and
lambs, as there is much difference in
fattening sheep and lambs successful
ly and profitably than there is in fat
tening hogs and cattle.
l am sure this applies to the east
ern feeder, or, rather to the ones east
of Chicago, who bought their lambs
at a higher cost than the western
feeder. but the eastern feeder has had
two antages-cheaper hay than in
years past (clover hay selling gener-
ally from $500 to $500 per tom, and
the lambs being fed in small lots.
they secure larger gains, it being no
uncommon sight for the Michigan
feeder to show gains of forty to fifty
pounds on their lambs. The eastern
farmer has made large profits this
year and l believe he will stick to the
lamb feeding business, which is the
best business any farmer ever went
into.
Changes i'm Feeding Methods.
The sheep feeding business has seen
some great changes the past ten years.
The big feeder has had to get down
and let the farmer in. In my opinion
this is right. The fellow who farm
erly fed $4,000 to 100000 never
ought to have taken such chances.
Just think of one individual or COM
pany fattenlng 100000 sheep or
lambs. all of one kind and nearly all
ready for market at the same time.
These sheep or lambs are what l
would call "market-breakers" or
"packer-luxuries" Many time |
have seen them sold for less than
cost when going into the feed lots.
SO | say, let the farmer feed them,
and feed only as many as he has feed
for This gives a variety of kinds
and different weights, and best of all,
Mr.. Farmer is getting into business
that will show him profit nine times
out of ten, and the tenth time if he
has to figure closely he will say,
well. if l did not make any real
money, l have the manure, and that
is worth at least so cents head for
each sheep I feed" This has been,
and from now on will be more of a
factor in the sheep feeding business
than anyone would believe.
In the state of New York thousands
of sheep and lambs are fed to ferti-
lize apple and pear orchards and
understand that where this has been
tried, the quality of the fruit IS bet
ter and the crops larger. In old
Michigan. where the land was worn
! out raising wheat, it has been re-
deemed by feeding lambs, and govern
ment reports show that for the last
| ten years it raises as much corn per
acre as Iowa and is surpassed by only
four other states. 1 attribute this
nearly entirely to lamb feeding. OF
course a few have built up their lands
by draining but a very small percent
age, and the farmer who feeds lambs
certainly has a more enjoyable life
than the fellow milking cows. 1t is
necessary to milk cows the year ar
ound, no matter how bad the flies are,
and with a switch of rne old tail
across your face when the perspira-
ton is rolling off as though you were
taking your turkish bath. hardly
blame the Michigan man for feeding
lambs. Then too, you do not nave
to get up at in the morning II
you feed lambs.
The lamb feeders have all made
money this year, and plenty of it, but
We must not overlook the fact that
the demand has not been good and
with as many having no feel as last
year, prices would again have been
disappointing, although there would
still be a profit in the deal for the