Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-15
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Omaha. June Ito the Editor of
The Bee: What is the matter with
the sheep business in Nebraska? Why
have Nebraska farmers and land own
ers not more sheep on their lands :?
Why is Nebraska one of the lowest
states In the union in sheep popula-
tion? Thus an endless list of dues-
tions might be asked defining the lack
OF interest among the farmers in this
state in the matter OF owning and
keeping sheep.
There is one reason for the scarcity
OF sheep in Nebraska, and that is the
dog and coyote nuisance, the fear of
damage to the fiocks from this source.
1t is we'll known fact which every
person will endorse that sheep cannot
be safely kept in Nebraska without
building dog and wolf-proof barri-
cade around all your pastures, sheep
lots and enclosures where sheep are
left overnight. This annoyance and
vexation of frequent loss by the killing
and wounding of sheep is too much
for the ordinary stock man to endure,
and he sells out and quits.
Nebraska can be made one of the
greatest sheep-growing states in the
union by little good protective legis-
lation in favor of the sheep growing
industry. Other sheep growing states
have their dog laws and wolf bounty
laws that make it possible for the
sheep owner to prosecute this indus
try in safety. 1t is only necessary to
make the dog responsible, financially,
for the sheep killed and injured, and
the farmers will tumble over each
other to get into the sheep-groYing
business. Why? Because there is
Ia tl,a- otta
feature of live stock handling.
Give the farmers to know that the
dogs of the state are all taxed, and
that this tax fund is held in each
county treasury ready to pay any and
all damage to sheep committed in the
county by dogs, and you have insured
sheep raising. All the farmer wants
to know is that he is safe from dog
damage to his flock. II the dog tax
Is established he knows that there will
be fewer good-for- nothing idle sheep
killing dogs kept, and in case he meets
with loss that he will get what his
sheep are worth.
This solves the question whether or
not Nebraska shall remain, as at pres
ent, with an annual population of
about 100000 sheep, or develop to
million and half to two million sheep
within the next few years. Nebraska
farmers would prefer to raise their
feeder sheep, but they cannot take the
risk Of this inevitable loss under the
present lack of protection.
The sheep-killing dog is the greatest
hindrance to the growth Of the sheep |
industry in any state that the sheep |
owner has to encounter The wisdom
of legislation in the suppression Of the
dog nuisance stands out prominently |
in all states that have succeeded in de-
the sheep and wool business.
1t may plainly be stated that no farm
ing state has ever been able to main
tain free and untaxed dog producing
and the sheep business at the
same time. 1t has been tried in all |
states in the union and failed, the use
less dog that does not represent any
legitimate industry being obliged to
give way to the sheep.
There are but few states in the
United States whose sheep and wool
interests are not represented by mill
lions of dollars. On the other hand,
here are but few states that recognize
he dog as of any value. The personal
property value of the dog is SO low in
The estimation of the general public
hat it is confined almost entirely to
|
log and his master have for each
)ther, and this has no market or in
rinsic value, such as Is found in the
mutton chops, leg of mutton or the
yoolen fabrics that clothe humanity,
both rich and poor AS to the relative
Ialue of these two classes of ahima.
,reation in their relation to man.
here is no basis upon which COM
,arison can be placed.
The sheep feature of our live stock
conditions are wrong end foremost
lere in Nebraska; We should have
ever dogs, no coyotes and more
heep; yes, millions more dollars en-
'loyed in the creating of mole dollars,
more prosperity, more wool to clothe
ur people, more mutton to feed the
lungry. Think of this and help to
Ian further protection Of our legiti- 4
nate industries. Think of this and
elp conserve the food waste that is
roviding the 10S,777 dogs of Ne
raska a living which should be con-
erted to the present needs of starv-
az humanity. Think of this and COM /
lence at once in sowing the seeds
f practical conservation at home.
What is our dog industry worth to
ur state? What revenue is produced
y our dog population Of 10S,777 dogs?
,oes 1t yield a dollar in actual oom-
lercial interests? Yet we permit =
ogs and wolves to go unrestrained .
yer our farms, destroying live stock