The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-04-17
SMALL FARMERS
TO RAISE SHEEP
COMBINE INDIVIDUAL BANDS
AND HAVE ONE HERDER TO
CARE FOR THEM.
Unique Plan of Farmers Owning
Small Bands of Sheep in Yellow
stone Valley; Venture VIII Be
Watched With Interest.

Sheep raising by farmers on the
n~on-irrigated lands OF the Yellow
stone valley by consolidating small
individual bands into a combined
band under the care of hired sheep
herders is about to be undertaken
at the suggestion of County Agent
StapIeton this spring.
The plan was inspired by the ex-
cellent conditions in the sheep, wool
and lamb industry. Range conditions
promise to give the venture an au-
spicious start.
Two other feeding factors are en-
%couraging the move. One is the
availability of the sugar beet pulp
as feed and the success with corn,
which will permit the growing of
that crop as forage p~asturage in the
field, as in hogging-down.
Fattened on Pulp
Last year there were between 49,
000and so, 900 sheep fattened in the
Montana fields, OF which 10000 were
fattened on the beet pulp near Bill
ings. With the development of the
OOOb 5lOWln5 hAuol1 y luOAC bACCp
probably will be fattened here and
there will be some measure of recov-
cry of the status of the early days of
the century, when 100000 sheep
were fattened annually in Montana.
According to present plans, the ex-
pertinent of having a company of
farmers hire a sheepherder probably
will be tried out this summer, in Ell
Their the Pineview or Broadview sec
ton, by groups of farmers. This will
put the farmer on the same basis as
the big sheepmen in cutting down
expense and will solve the need of
having a watch over the sheep con-
stantly.
Each o. the farmers interested will
plant corn this summer and the sheep
will be turned into the fields in the
fall when the grain is ripe. This plan
has been followed with considerable
success in the northen part of the
state. Low growing types of corn are
favored as making better pasture,
more easily secured by the sheep as
we'll as yielding more to the acre.
By combining homegrown feed for
.fattening, handy range and an or
ganized group to stand the expense
Of care, Mr.. Stapleton believes that
the main problems of raising small
bands of sheep will be solved.
With the shep market in it's present
excellent condition, Mr.. Stapleton
finds a great deal of enthusiasm for
sheep raising. He expects that be-
tween 20 and 30-farmers in the nom
irrigated sections will take up the
venture within the next year in yell
lowstone county.
Industry Coming Back
Government records show that
there is a very gradual coming back
Of the sheep industry in Montana.
The raising of sheep reached it's peak
IN the state in 1901 when there was
6,417, 900 sheep in the state. The
decline reached low ebb in 1921 with
.l,743,000, but returned to 2,315,000
1928 and made asmaller increase
% 100000 the first of the year. In
the low ebb continued until
with 2,686,00O with a slight re-
,overy to 2,776,00O the following
rear. Montana now ranks fifth in
he number of sheep with Texas, Wy
Idaho, California ahead.
According to County Agent w. p.
there are more inquiries
lbout the sheep business from non
irrigated farmers than about any new
enterprise looking toward diverisfi-
in which they are interested.
lie expects to see considerable devel-
'pment along the line of bands of
700 to 800 sheep on non-irrigated
a nm q 4 a., ~ - %I@ -A-& Co.