Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-09
DIFFERENT
GRADES OF SHEEP
H, CIineSS Contributes In
teresting Article on Wealth
Producing Animals to Ameri-
can Stockman,

Writing in the American Stockmar
OF TINS month, John II. Cliness, on
tributes IN interesting article on the
sheep industry west of the Tooth. me-
fidian. III part ne says:
In q former article the writer told
of the waning cattle industry west OF
the one-hundredth medidian and as
signed the various aus that led up
TO such a condition of affairs, TIE
main ones being the cncroachmen. of
the homesteader and the steady ao-
ance Of the sheepmen with his wool.
ly charges. OF these two principal
causes hat contributed so much to-
ward the cleaning up of the big cat
tie outfits the latter was the main
thorn il the flesh of the cattle ban
ons, who resisted. and in some Sec
tons are still doing so by armed force.
However, the steady onward march of
the woody backs into the haunts of
the cowboy could not be stayed, but
increased in volume and force, many
cattlemcnt themselves turning sheep
owners, thus helping to put an end to
what seemed an almost endless war.
Three Districts.
Today there are about twenty-five
millions or more sheep west of the
one-hundredth meridian, scattered all
over the country from canada to Old
Mexico. In three almost distinct dis
tricts are to be found different types
of sheep with corresponding differ
cnt form of management. These
arc the southwestern plains region of
New Mexico, Arizona and
southern California; the inter noun
tain region, comprising Colorado,
Utah and adjacent territory; n the
northern regions of the Dakotas,
Montana. Wyoming and Idaho. The
vary in these sections accord
to the climate and the character
IF the men engaged in the industry.
the range grasses Increase in
abundance and sweetness as You go
northward, so likewise the quality of
me sheep becomes better. and in the
1orth the best sheepmen are found.
Southwestern Sheep.
The floclts Of the southwestern
region are generally of Next
origin. These old Mexican sheep
nave few Of those qualities that the
shcepman would associate
With good sheep. They look emaniat-
ID and have a scant covering Of low
wool, yet these sheep have
heir virtues. are hardy-the outcome
# Survival of the fittest.' as they
been raised for generations and
generations on the driest and worst
,arched ranges in the whole west.
'hey are a%bundantly able t. live
whore a large sheep would starvc
ma be picked by coyotes. These
southwestern flocks are now in bet
hands than formerly and have
,een graded up with rams of the
iambouillet or Merino type, beside
Illusions Of English blood are in evil
in many flocks, but the more
blood the more severe are
winter losses and its use has lost
on this account.
In the Central District.
In the inter-mcuntain district what
: called the trailing system Of sheep
anching prevails largely, the herds
pending the winters ON the plains
T lower regions. the springs n
aIs in the intermediate regions, n
he summers in the high pastures In
mountains. Winter feeding OF
is often practiced near the
-rigable valleys. and where this can
Il don winter losses have been re-
to . minimum. Oftentimcs the
have to trail a hundred miles
r more between the summer and
ne winter range. and if they reach the
fountains before the melting of h
now has allowed the grass To STAR
luch trouble is experienced in tidiuS
yer until the snow mclts. This trail
system causes the different flock
masters TO have little regard Tor thc
reservation OF the range. for many
ands may camp neal or on eacn
Tiers bed grounds and those that
ONE last viii find only the roots of
he grass 10 eat. and In this way much
+ the range is permanently crippled