Evening star., 1914-12-15
OUR MEAT SUPPLY.
II.-Mutt0n.
By Frederic J. Haskin

With the beef supply i'll this country
greatly diminished and all meat eX-
ceedingly dear, it is very pertinent to
inquire to what extent the mutton SUD-
ply has been affected by the general
causes that have brought about the
shortage in meat, and how the supply
may be increased and maintained
The number of sheep in the United
States has decreased in the last few
years, though not nearly SO rapidly
as the number of cattle. In 1910 there
were 52,44S.000 sheep in the country,
and at the beginning of 1911 there were
only 49.719.0O0.
The principal cause of this decrease,
and the factor which will always gov
ern the mutton supply of the country,
IS the prize of wool. The sheep is
primarily a wool-bear ring animal and
while there are several methods of in
creasing the number of sheep in the
country to be considered, it must al
ways be kept in mind that the mutton
supply will vary with the price of wool.
Thus, between the years 1905 and 1909
the price for certain grade of wool
varied between % and so cents Il pound.
while in 1913, following Il gradual de-
crease, it varied between 90 and "a
cents. The decrease in the number of
sheep in the country began with a de-
cline in the price of wool The coinci-
dence of this decline with the short
age of beef cattle was an important
factor in causing the present scarcity
of meat.
Not only is the sheep-growing indus
try dependent for it's existence upon
the wool market, but it will fuctuate
more rapidly than any other branch of
animal husbandry, and is. therefore.
the least reliable source of meat
supply. In the southwest. sheep rails
ing is a most speculative business. The
sheep are ranged in great fiockS over
the public lands and the national for
eSts, with one or two men in charge of
each flock. The labor is comparatively
cheap. 1t is not necessary to own or
improve land, raise feed, or exercise
close personal supervision. One may
invest money in sheep much as he
would buy shares on the stock market
If the price OF wool rises, and the sea
son is favorable. with plenty of grass
and water upon the range, he will
realize large profit upon the invest
ment; while If the price of wool de-
cllneS, and the year is dry nothing can
save him from heavy loss. This
speculative character will always rem
der the mutton supply uncertain.
Mutton has never occupied nearly as
important a place upon the American
bill of fare as beef, but the recent
scarcity Of all meats and the high
prices paid for them have gone II long
way toward overcoming the Ameri-
can prejudice against mutton. Within
the last few years the slaughter of
sheep has increased enormously, and
has been another important cause in
the shortage of meat. In 1900 about
100000 sheep were killed i'll the
principal stockyards of the United
States. while in 1909 this number had
been increased to more than 10000, 900,
and i'll 1919 to more than $4,000, 900.
When it is taken into account that dur
inf this same period fewer sheep were
being raised than formerly, it is realiz-
ed that the slaughter was excessive.
Many animals that should have been
kept for breeding and for wool produc-
ton We're sacrificed to take advantage
of the fancy prices offered for meat.
:: :;
Even this excessive killing howev ver