The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-20
The Range Bred Eve on the Nd.
Farm Discussed Before the TilIers

Itute annual No. 8. published in 1905
we find no less than nine discussion
and reports on the dairy industry O
the state. Do we find one article re-
Hating to the sheep or the sheen indus.
try? No; we do not III the flock mas.
ters Of the state would move with
greater alacrity and make known thu
benefits derived from flock handling
with as much force as the champion.
of the horse, cow and pig, we would
see and unprecedented growth In the
fiocks Of the state.
| Allow me to quote from one of ON
greatest sheep authorities, Joseph f.
| Wing, as to the adaptibility of this
state for the production Of sheep, In
his valuable book, Sheep Farming in
America, he says In speaking Of the
states of Montana, Wyoming and the
Dakotas. This whole region is des-
tined to be, the author believes, one
vast pastoral expanse. dotted with
sheep herds. and given over very near
ly, to the exclusion of other animals,
to the sheep. 1t is the one part OF the
United States having abundant grass.
admirable climate and soil capable Of
growing almost any breed of sheep in
perfection and with little loss from
parasitic infection.
There is, too, the advantage of an
intelligent and progressive people en-
barked in the sheep industry and they
have already shown by their work In
suppressing scab over large parts of
this region what they can and will ac-
complish"
State Is Well Located for Sheer.
In securing our range bred ewes for
breeding purposes on the farm we are
situated. We are in close
proximity to three of the largest
sheep producing states in the union,
l. e. Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
The majority of sheep raised in these
three states are raised on the open
range and are without doubt the best
representation of that type of sheen
that by years of breeding on the open
range have become very hardy. good
rustlers, excellent grazers, good breed |
ers and profitable sheep in every way.
They have not been coddled. hammered
md confined to stuffy barns and sheds. |
rs Is often the case with native bred
sheep. 1t has largely been a, survival |
If the f1ttest, coupled with the desire
II experienced flock owners, to produce
class Of stock that would make their
'wners the greatest profits. 1t Is these
Qualities combined with their rugged
that make them. admirs-
'ly adapted to use as breeders on our
arms. 1t is interesting to note, that
he states Of Wyoming and Montana
or the year of 1908, had the highest
per head on these sheen OF.
my OF the northwestern range states
The United States bureau of ANIMAL
industry tells us, THAT, generally
peaking, the sheep industry of North
Dakota was begun at time when ev
rything in the way of agricultural
ursuits was at a low ebb. North Da-
ota came into statehood with all her
nancial expectations based on her
reat staple crop OF spring wheat.
his crop was their main standby. and
Their crops and live stock husbandrv |.
ere merely incidental; therefore,
hen the wheat crop failed the hus-
was financially embarrass-
d, more than one failure in succession
leant, in most cases, ruin, especially
the greater portion of North Dakota
{ that time"
The years 1Ss9-90 found the farmers
North Dakota suffering from agri- !
lltural depression to a greater extent
erhaps than any other western state.
he farmers of this state had but one !
'op to depend on, and when that I
lied they had no other resources
1t was at this time that the sheen
rst received any material recognition
ON the farmers Of this state. In the :
me of need, the sheep made good. and !
ON that time to this, they have made
steady increase every way with a :
'ssible few exceptions.
Some Of the Methods Praeticed,
Hoping that have made clear to b
IA, some of the advantages of the r
nge bred eve for breeding operations Il
our North Dakota farms, l will en- p
'avor to give you the methods that
have practiced on my fathers y
rm in handling them. Also the h
ethods of as many other breeders as e,
could secure. h
believe, that there are three lead N
3 ways In which we should study this n
O~ASAA W 6AAAFO CT TIE D6ST DOSSfDiei III
luton. First select the good points v,
at have been developed in other tc
ates that you think will apply to our I'll
nd1tions here. Second, take a greater 1t
terest in the work that the state ag- HI
cultural college Is doing along the OF
ie OF sheep breeding. Get next to II | w
lip 1t personally and financiallv' tn
hen you are in Fargo go out to the ST
rms, talk to the shepherd, give him a
ur experience. ask him for his. ia
ow that he will tell you whatever
u want to know to the best OF his w
ility and most cheerfully. The third re
W, and often the best way, is to start pr
lock OF your own and experiment. or to
you already own a. flock, get pointers co
I'm them. Use different feeds note fe
2 results, watch the care that the get Ike
d don't keep 1t all to yourself bnt ia
] your neighbors the results Won get WI
< them for the results thew get in
Many people will tell you that sheen
II not thrive in level flat conn
2. I'll admit, that II isn't the hest 90
vironment, but there is but small oe
rcentage OF the land of North Da ~
ia that is perfectly flat and / can :
that even in our famous RED =