| Sheep Farming
In America.
JOSEPH EB. WING,
Class
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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
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JOSEPH E. WING.
Sheep Farming
In America.
By JOSEPH E. WING,
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Staff Correspondent of The Breeder’s Gazette.
CHICAGO, ILL.:
Sanders Publishing Co.
1905,
LIBRARY of CONGRESS
Two Copies Received
DEC 16 1905
Copyright Entry
#-4L./90
CLASS CA XXc, No,
Shes B,
Copyright, 1905,
- BY SANDERS PUBLISHING CO.
All rights reserved.
GON TENT 8S:
Bee LSA ROIS 52 Gn ead hock thet Wo Iw eho S MOREA Rae: 11-12
PA TRODUCTION one sch babes be a AN Ge ee gs ae eee 13-19
CHAPTER I.
EEA VOC by bs RISES. oy an a ewe oe eee 21-31
MVHS i orass iro Sa ogee Stat aE oe aac SEO ee 22
Delaine Merinos and Black Tops................00. 20
CERT IE AUTEN SES ocala Foe oie Meta eh ge eS ae aN Pe 26
POLE YUEN A RPMI Pheer. aaah e ateg aie ae hie Kea oie aaron 32-56
The Downs— .
POD MOS rare c acaars 2 eek tae ek eemeae epee 35
SLT 0) Uc 2k os Oa ame AOR Renee a Ne Sime yin Soe PRN re tol eee 38
ERAN SITS 58 eat ante a ek oe leew Caren 40
ES 165 6 a a gg cre cae mk lee ep Ne iri = gr See RS 42
The Long-Wools—
ME MSCHNE TSU en windiest were aad alga ee ren. Ae Sek ets 42
WOR WON ct arse sip eer ae Ree ee See algae 45
LS 31h 0 an ai ie aes bg oe aah D3 5 Saar NT a a aaa 46
1, S112) hag m0 11, Ne OOS A yin She Baht rena ra Sea spe ed a 47
The Mountain Breeds—
SASS REPRO es Fe Al ae a ea sa 50
PSC RAC OS Tat Ae eccrine eee ee des eee oa 51
CHAPTER ITT.
SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT................. hc 8 Ee 57-84
Restocking a Farm with Sheep..................... 57
(5)
6 CONTENTS.
Selection-of the: Ramaisacs sacs soak ies Oe Oro ee 58
Selection,‘of the Hwess:.c2.c5nes sa siemens eee ee eee 59
Gettine: Home with the Mock 2... so ssss tse cece see 62
Tmportance OfADip pine esse Seles oa vere eeetes aoe 62
Scab: Inseet 2 osck-lo a testten eee esac miaon cases unease 64
ie Dippin: Vato. ce aes es os & Pee ees eee 65
Regular Dipping of the Warm-Mlockt; 2... as eee 68
Summary Obs Dippin Ch ia oaths a ues ts athe ree wee
Fall freatmont of thé Wwe Wieck: 2.0 fee 72
IME GIMN ERS Gcerenate oie. Liat chase ole eo anaes a ANDO ia SATE nea We
PUte Ne SiGe Sa yee Sis, ora se aietae otras eae care os eee 74
Management ‘of ‘tle amis aces. ties. cce bs 2s ocaeiee 76
Gare of-the*Preenant: Wwe mee iene ce cc ea oer as temo n ere 78
CHAPTER IV.
CARE OF THE EWE AND YOUNG LAMB............-: 85-129
her Hiwe Asari cee eiier sc archers he ae hoe Stee we ace 85
Care-at- am bing CPamers ss cod eres ce ok cesta ee 89
Feeding of the Ewe After Lambing................ 96
Troubles-of . Young laambnood . 244 2: sscc ck nea 101
Sore Mouths and Leats sain a: ix ee eee oe 102
Feeding the Lambs............ RE Ia PES SOMME I ae ey 103
Peeding’ forthe Marketers... dea ae See 106
Dressing Lambs for Fancy Winter Market.......... 114
Treatment of the Late-born Lamb................... 116
Beedine Corn on sGrass vers cece se ee pees 120
Summer: Shades ce. ise. cesses oa ee ees See 121
Marketing ‘the. Sprins: hamiby. 68.5 i. tn eee ee 125
Dockings.c cite es6 Pe Seer enn ive t pe kee eS 125
Castration of ‘Old; Rams.34) os. sone eke ee eee 127
Castration: of sbambs a2 cesar cs an ee eae 127
W CANIN 2h 25S aie Pe ee Le Le Oe 128
CHAPTHRV:
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT ...............-- 130-163
The Ewe Plock s...cc3ee se A, eee 130
CONTENTS. fi
Wse-et Sowiler astunesia teat t eee bow antes sh eigw dees 8 139
Onts suk -AtraliavPasture.::: 4. Sauce doa ae elt 3 140
Clovyer-and Alitalia Pastorecnd: our. ws. eketlce 8 143
Danger from Clover and Alfalfa Pasture........... 144
Phe Use ot Wages. 0342 cea ctu coke io. ees os 150
Pabbasess dagen oreiiisenk Use ee tacad. wee as at 151
Pntplemage a goo oa gaa cee aie aeanay pate Le 152
Care of: the Meet... 25 is 3 cation baat ons) 5s SUR ee Os 155
Hoot Roh. and: W0ot-Seald:.s Gris einer tei Date aes 156
MRIVent OF abe iams 7 ath s 3 sa Perak wd eg a el es 158
The Dampine "Peng: yashrts She (oats ts ees es eee a 159
PO ayia Pianta WS: oa. hs ates eet ek Sheet bes ate RRL ohio gee tke 161
CHAPTER VI.
WASHING, SHEARING AND MARKING .............. 164-179
Washine and: Shearing. 55.5. cai eats. bite time we 166
PLIGUETM ieee ay hte areata cal gain ieee cee Remar hs tal MS 9 166
Siiearin Wie hin es it ou Oey: A, sal Leite 169
TEEN GL STi 0 a soe ae eae ak Peace Une Ce ne a Oa Ree a Se ORE 174
Pine: PGi War eae ook ie gener, nabdy gia «!s.0 ae ake aches we 175
Marking Pure-bred, Dams 0. schists os ones Leia fee fT
FLOCK HUSBANDRY IN THE WESTERN STATES..... 180-230
Wew MiemIg0. i sigr a latteaalt BR,.d ceded e eee epee 180
Characteristics of Mexican Sheep................68- 181
“The Good Old Times’’ in New Mexico............ 183
Modern. Mana roment. 0 sic coos oho aehou eee ene ek « 184
IiSGaseS OL the ange {acnisin seid. alae ante os 187
Noxican lambs as; Meedersj4Git2sie ks ca auee eee 188
he Wane De Lends. 2, Righaies reds se sc dvaee taG'sy 189
Nai RULIEr LIE WS WO - COLIN \5 aie's2d pie a o's 9.6 0.0 Soke ceo ee 190
The Blood of the Herds........ 6 a eee? POE Te 192
hie Division Of the anges. soc 62s. cise oe See wee 192
Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas............... 193
Parasitic. Infection of the Ranges...,............... 194
8 CONTENTS.
Happy Future.of the Resions iv teen. css fees 197
Management of the Range Rams................... 198
Where the Rams Come T¥romil.22i5...502246 Usk 199
The. Breediio Season...) seas 2 es eee ee 199
Vigor of Hwes: and. Lambs: 2725). eins ey ae ee 200
The Busy Shepherd at Lambing Time.............. 200
PG COV OCCT Ae Boas ocx oo taaeseaeete ARI ous A ee 201
‘Ermine they lua miss <5 a. ae ks ee ee: 202
shearing on: the Rangevsweiee aes. ere ee 204
FDEP NIG seca np ocias Sian et ic Aes eM Oe Se 205
The. Maligned.‘‘Sheep Herder’. 2s.) 2 ai 2.G ee fee dae 207
Ups and Downs ofsthe Business..........0.54..546.. 209
Chegto petri“ Omtlook ss s..c. sine aad eae ce ck 210
AO Work: tobe D@We $4 Soins Ast es ats oa ae oes 210
Sheep Advance; Cattle Retreat.................2..6. 212
Winter Feeding of Sheep and Lambs................ 212
Necessity for Dipping 2c.5 nuh sence ee ee ee ope Aas: 213
Selection of Meed Gre iii .2 esa carver Gee wn ee ee ee 217
Peedine Of Tham bs 25 sacracilsios ae eee tee eee a 230
CHAPTER. Vil.
WESTERN SbAMB FP BEDING (oa orics soetaeanes aaa ee 231-276
Pea Peedine: in Golorado ptr acc-Aae snes ee ae 231
Alfalta-ted Colorado Taamibs=eckaceee mee coe nee 232
Peeding, Mill Sereenines? 2m: Oasis side a aes 241
Sheep-feeding in the Corn-Belt.............. ote at ad 242
Use: of Self-feeders.. i: aw. es Se ee ee aes 262
Needing’ Beet. al peies, G3, eae ee. She eee 262
Peas oe doambe sce Ae oie ot ae ee ee 265
Conclusion, the Importance of the Matter........... 265
Feeding of Older Sheep :%.c3. «652th, cae « 266
Feeding -Mature: Weethers <: 62 otis: Se dinstese ss «tienes 267
CHAPTER IX.
LHE. DISEASES OF SHEEP 255: G6. ee ee 277-307
Ailments: incGeneral nin). esc: Micme te eect oe See 2717
CONTENTS. 9
Importance of Post-Mortem Dissection.............. 283
Other Diseases> of Sheep. aiwn eats Saws oe See was 284
Garret, or-Mammitisy. Sesser cc cn eters eee ene 285
Grud bE CAGt ao cs Guid sO eae oils Se eee as 288
Tatver> Wiiwe Ene Ote tc as aewcak, Sie acshe win ea bhate oles 2 289
INGE IER ADMSCASEL oon Naame ase wate aa ke S Osta eee eee 290
et WWORHISa sou scent ane nek ad sake es 2s Sst ee wee nee 291
Husk, Hoose, or Parasitic Bronchitis............... 292
The Stomach Worm (Strongylus Contortus).........293
Treatment for Roundworms in Sheep, Goats and
MARGIE 2 tera 240" a ie Uh She Be ie Wea < ant ee 295
Goal Tar Crecsote]natsicn cp es oe ca eee sae hee a 296
Coal-Tar Creosote and Thymol................6. 298
Gasoline sors eke oe OYE Sa etieas aptetee Pe PES at yee 298
Methods of Drenching Animals................. 301
Position of Animal During Drenching.......... $02
Startwith a Healthy Ploek.ccise hoes de the eee 303
CHAPTER X.
THE: ANGORA-AND MILKING GOATS) .ast ssc eee 308-326
Cites Anta GOA Gwe: <2. + soacapers. byes oat ie o, aye. Bi whe 308
AES Nell COWES ea0 5 as Se A ase PO Ree aS Oe ae es 322
gS fel
aN tee
Fed Wek RATIONS:
PORN N is WV. a ceils oe BRL able toe yeaa ate Frontispiece. i
iewO-year-O1G Merino Puaniss bof. lo. ee eek an ea Peers 23
Yearling Rambouillet Ewes in France................... 27
Photographic Studies in Down Types of Sheep........... 33
Harm “Urainime forthe Show Ring. bib. 2oeles wes Baeoans 38
MAROON bye INS nonce 5 sais ape 'nc: 2S ste ON ore Shae Reece we ee Ee 43
PBMC ONES UVR fore cas 3 5/5 aol kale mise mare, ace wos ane RNO ae Sicko 43
Sone. Ohio Dersetsy : Uso ein ta nee She Misa eee 7
ROY Ht WIS on) aie beh > ech wrk a os lodestar eee ee 54
BOER HWS eos gus Cee iis Sherk eS UU oad es OS elad 60
Dipping Sheep at the University of Wisconsin........... 63
Dra Baan ee sd Se Se 6 Ee ee VON RE MRR 70
Feamebouilies: Pye ese 70. 2 Nae Shee ee ee 75
Shropshire Ewes on a Canadian Farm................00. 19
Peli ftGeelvEealiies cuca tava Bets See O eae a Oe eee 83
ILL OWE WOS pace ks cha tte Seine chee esa RN es, See ergra ele 86
Helaine-Merinedtam: Liambewe ac) trots as oe ee 91
A Buneh of Nebraska Leicesters. 2.0...) 20.0.0. 00.5 cece ees 97
‘‘Mary Had Five Little Lambs’’............-e.ceceeeees 103
Dorset Lambs on the Way to Market.................... 107
PATA AMA ISD CPG los crate, seas ofasFoocs op ey thao SAA ORLEANS 6 BES aha 113
POs YOR VaR EU. cole nas «a so sted etocl Mee asad ola cae the Ss 115
Bipods Ose 10F a PIChURe icine. osama eee PSS 118
ariarloud Of Vearhing VV Shores 2X02 sleet cas Cle i ee 123
Dae ie. Country Pasture psec ae 2 < Be kate s isha aictatgatee 131
2 ILLUSTRATIONS.
Gotswold“Wwess: oc. eis. secs oy wt ee eter ene eerie eae 136
Feeding Lambs on a Hillside Pasture.................... 142
Studies'in Sheep Character... ccc eis tans hele 147
Veariing Oxsierd amie os sancech soos Oe site tease Soe saeuee eG 152
Tpeicester Fait 025 GF ik. Bee Sia Aes em ab clade meals Sieaie sacs ate ete 153
Imported Hampshire Ram Lambs ............00..5000000 162
Hand Shearins Machine.) sc0 xcs awe ac eacemmne eae mae cumin 169
Shearing Black-faced Sheep in Scotland................. 172
Wearkine Oxford aims. ccs ssi sc2 etek ee einen ome ae 182
Dishley Merinos:in Praneeur ) ici ok Jeb oe Se ee 185
Black-faced Sheep in the: Hillsii¢2. 2) ee a es 191
A Kansas Feeding Yard, Capacity 18,000 Sheep.......... 195
A Sheep Wagon on the Rance. yee. 6 s00 ne ee ee 201
Pancoln Shearhines cis ces cee oa ee cso ae 5 wee a breed 204
An llinois Feeding and Shipping Yard. .2..2 2.2.2 472.24 206
SSI O NK PCAN, Coreg a ost claw oh ecase ar onetaie ot Gone v nla SOA otra ae 211
A Fine-wooled Flock on a Western Farm...............+ 215
Feeding Corral, with Straight Fence.................... 221
A Show of, Cotswoldsi.. casos soubor on aot cee 227
Shropshire Feeders ian Colorado. 3.22 tines. eee 233
Racks: for Peedine: Graitic i 4 aa ae ee She 238
Box Rack for Meeding Alfalfa ons .u... 222 Vs eee ae 239
Cross-section of Model Sheep Barn Showing Frame...... 243
Side View of Model Sheep Barn Showing Doors......... 244
Two. Views.of Keed. Rak. ere, SAS Che eae 247
Feeding Corral, with Zigzag Fence................0...8+ 253
SHEED VV AGONS Scns, cchstte SKA E ek BS eee eee Leake 260
Ar Pexas Weeding Vardi 5 acc sntieicus ssi knwo eoaend eto 263
A: Pair of Hampshire Iuambs >.<: sce a eA ee 268
Ati.a Royal English Show 2s ic.cs.dch Gok enfeaes sae dake 269
Lancolns in ‘the:-Show Ring). 255326 ee ek See ee 273
Ag Angora Goat SHOW -2,4<.55.. 4 ee (ORES eo th 311
INTRODUCTION.
The traveler in Kngland, Scotland and parts
of France and Germany is impressed by the
importance of the sheep industry to these lands.
Sheep farms are often found close together and
ot large size with great numbers of sheep there-
on. ‘lhe writer has stood on one hill in Dorset-
shire and counted eight shepherds, each with
his flock of about 400 ewes and their lambs, in
sight at one time. Nearby, in an adjoining
county, flocks of Hampshires exist as large as
2.900 on farms of not above 1,400 acres ot not
extra soil. These flocks are very profitable and
they make rich soils that without the sheep
would be hardly worth cultivating. They ex-
ist in wonderful health and vigor on lands that
have been sheeped since civilization peopled the
land. In Scotland and the Cheviot hills flocks
exist over the entire land and without sheep
the land would almost lapse into wilderness. In
France on lands worth $250.00 per acre great
flocks of mutton sheep are kept. The agricul-
ture of these countries leans strongly on the
sheep. Long experience in maintaining fertil-
ity, in creating it, has taught the farmers that
without the flocks they can not continue profit-
able agriculture. Sheep fit in well to an in-
tensive system of agriculture. They are docile,
(13)
14 SHEEP FARMING iN AMERICA,
tractable, easily kept within bounds, not fastid-
ious in their appetites but willing to devour
most weeds along with the good forage, and
they leave behind them a wake of fruitiul soil.
In America sheep farming is little understood.
Sheep are kept ina more or less desultory man-
ner, having the run of some hill pasture or
woodland, fed at intervals in winter, sold oif
when prices become low, bought up again with
the return of higher prices, given small care
or encouragement, often afflicted with parasites,
internal and external, a side issue to the farmer,
profitable in spite of his neglect, yet not often
assuming the dignity of a business of them-
selves. ‘here are several reasons for this state.
It is in part a heritage of the days when sheep
were little valued for their flesh and were kept
mainly for their fleeces. It is in part a result
of our once cheap lands and insufficient labor
with which to till them. And in large part it.
is because of ignorance of profitable methods.
When sheep thrive their owners gladly reap
the profits; when they become diseased and un-
profitable it is usually charged to ‘‘bad luck.”’
There need be small element of luck or chance
in sheep management. There is always a rea-
son for thrift and for unthrift in the flock. There
need rarely be any disease in the flock. A
healthy sheep is certain to be a profitable one.
_ There is at this time good reason for think-
ing seriously of these problems of sheep hus-
bandry because of the increase in mutton con-
sumption and the curious parallel fact that
the production is decreasing. April 1, 1903,
INTRODUCTION. 15
saw about 39,204,000 sheep shorn; April, 1904,
about 38,342,000, or nearly a million less. It is
probable that this decrease has been checked,
though there has been no decided change in
conditions and comparatively little re-stocking
of Eastern farms. Sheep are essentially today
dwellers of the range, the mountain and the
desert. Montana has the largest number of
sheep, 5,976,000; Wyoming has 3,800,000; New
Mexico, 3,150,000; Idaho, 2,300,000; Ohio, 2,033,-
060; Utah, 2,025,000; Oregon; 2,000,000; Cali-
fornia, 1,625,000; Texas, 1,440,000; Colorado,
1,300,000; Michigan, 1,200,000; Pennsylvania,
850,000; New York, 675,000; Washington, 560,-
000; Nevada, 600,000; Arizona, 620,000; Indi-
ana, 700,000, and all other states below 600,000
each. It will be seen that in comparison with
the ranges the states make rather a small
showing in the sheep industry, Ohio and Mich-
igan excepted. The fact of free grass upon the
Western ranges and the general healthfulness
of flocks in that arid region have had a deterring
influence upon the sheep industry in the old
farming states. Now, however, that the ranges
seem unable to supply the mutton that is de-
manded by our consumers it is time to forget
their menace and to take up again our old trade
of shepherding on our Eastern farms.
There are several excellent reasons why this
is a rational and promising industry in which
to embark. The ranges are now fully stocked
with cattle and sheep. ‘To increase the num-
bers of sheep means to drive out more cattle
and this the cattle men are resisting by armed
16 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA,
force. On many of the drier ranges the sheep
have overpastured the grass till much of it has
been destroyed root and branch and thus its
carrying power is much decreased. Settlers are
taking the land in every irrigable valley and
fencing it and there is thus in every way a
steady diminution inthe numbers of sheep
on the ranges. Nor can it be seen how this may
be checked and their numbers made to increase,
seeing that alfalfa forms almost the sole forage
grown in the arid region, and this is not a crop
suited to careless grazing of large bands of
sheep by hireling herders.
Consider again that the prejudice that at one
time existed against mutton eating has almost
died away. The cities are eating all the mutton
that they can get and are paying for it much
more than they are paying for beef or pork.
There are doubtless several excellent reasons
for this. Fashion is one. The fact that crowds
of our people visit England every year leads
them to form the ‘‘lamb chop’’ habit. Mutton
is better fattened and prepared than formerly. —
There is offered a very much greater supply of
lamb mutton than of mutton from old sheep,
and that helps. Then the old-time type of small,
wrinkly, thin-fleshed sheep has about disap-
peared, and that helps. There is demand for
lambs from babyhood up to a year of age, well
fattened; there is demand for mature mutton.
Whether the packers have or have not con-
trolled the price of beef they have not been able
or desirous of keeping down the price of mutton.
For ten years feeders of lambs have prospered
INTRODUCTION. 17
exceedingly, with occasional discouragements,
and there is no prospect of the production of
good, well-finished mutton being overdone for
some years to come. It can not be overdone
until one of two things happens, either the
American people must fall into calamitous days
or a great number of farmers must turn shep-
herds and learn the business from the ground
up. Neither of these things will happen soon.
Sheep husbandry is not ditticult but it requires
close attention to details and that we will not
many of us give. The few who will patiently
learn the art will therefore prosper the more
exceedingly.
it is a happy thought to look forward to the
day when well kept, happy flocks will abound
in our land. ‘I‘hen weeds will disappear, to be
replaced by luxuriant grass and forage crops.
Then trim fields, each with its appropriate
green growth, will be dotted with snowy-fleeced
ewes and plump, rollicking lambs, each one a
picture of health and thrift ; shepherds’ neat cot-
tages will shelter an intelligent and thrifty class
of farm laborers, great piles of manure will
be accumulated in winter time to replenish the
old fields, the farm boys will find enough to
do and sufficient encouragement for doing it
and will remain on the farms and then agri-
culture will be truly an upbuilding, a creation
of fertility and farms where now there is little
of profit left to country dwellers.
Let no one imagine, however, that these
blessings follow the mere act of buying a flock
and placing it upon the farm. ‘‘Sheep are
18 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
ever an unhappy flock,’’ remarked an old
Roman agriculturist, and in no other stock
can the ignorant or heedless farmer have so
great a variety of misfortunes as with the sheep.
i‘ew of these troubles are unavoidable. It is
to point the way to success and to indicate
the rough places that this little book is written.
It is to be regretted that a great change has
come over country life. The old intimacy be-
tween the farmer and his men, the farmer and
his fields, the farmer and his animals, has to
an extent gone, perhaps forever. Nevertheless,
the farmer who undertakes to keep sheep with
profit must go back to the ways of his fathers
and his boyhood, he must cultivate an acquaint-
ance with the individuals in his flock, must
learn to know instantly by sight whether or
no they are in health, must have their confi-
dence so that he can without much trouble catch
them afield, by aid of the shepherd’s crook or
a bit of salt or a handful of shelled corn. For-
tunately this intimacy is a delight as well as a
source of profit. ‘‘The eye of the Master fat-
tens the flock.’’ Hired shepherds may be faith-
ful, but they need the suggestions and the in-
spiration that come from wise co-operation of
the employer.. Best of all shepherds are the
men who own the sheep. It is a delightful oc-
cupation and one that interests the young.
There is room for work, for thought, for growth
in this work. ‘Some of the happiest hours and
most helpful the author has ever known have
been spent in working among his ewes and
lambs, or seated beneath a tree watching them
INTRODUCTION. 19
graze in the cool of the evening or seeing the
lambs scamper up and down the hillsides.
Strong men have come from tending sheep.
Young David watched his father’s flocks and
in his zeal slew the lion and the bear that would
have destroyed them. Gazing from his hill
pastures afar out over the land he learned to
love it well, so that the day came when he
emerged from the solitude of the sheep pas-
tuxes to be the one who should redeem Israel
from bondage. Let us hope that in our own
land young men may be found who while
working with the gentle ewes and innocent
lambs may from these scenes of peace absorb
sufficient love of home, country and native
land that they may come forth strong to help
in the redemption and upbuilding of their own
country.
Cit fer ke
THE FINE-WOOL BREEDS.
It is not thought worth while to present
here extensive accounts of the various breeds
of sheep; however, some mention must be made
with the characteristics pertaining to each.
Breeds originate from environment, from pe-
euliar characters of soil and vegetation and
climate, and from the mental idiosyncrasies of
the breeders themselves. Each breed has its
own particular field where it serves best a
certain purpose. For all that, breeds are some-
what flexible and several have a wide range
of adaptability. Conditions of market and
of environment make some breeds more prof-
itable than others in certain locations. What
would pay best on the range, in some remote
state where wool by its cheap transportation
brings the major share of profit, might not
pay so well in near proximity to large cities
where the demand is for quick-maturing mut-
ton. Inversely, sheep are not suited to range
conditions that are not good shearers, good
to ‘‘herd,’’ that is, having the mental trait
that makes them stay close together and an
ability to withstand occasional times of starva-
tion. On the farm the ability to live through
(21)
22 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
hard winters on sparse allowance of food is
not a qualification worth taking into account.
MERINO SHEEP.
Probably the oldest races of domesticated
sheep are the various families of Merinos.
Most they have felt the moulding hand of
man, most they seem to diverge from any
wild type of which we have knowledge. Very
likely Merinos were kept in Palestine during
bible times and it may be that King David
when a lad watched beside a flock of. Merinos.
Under the hand of man they have suffered
a degeneration in form, not now being as
hardy, as vigorous or full of stamina as any
wild race of sheep now in existence. What
they have lost in form and vigor they have
gained in fleece. The wool of the Merino is
the finest and for many purposes easily the
best in the world. It should command the
highest price and usually does. Merino breed-
ers in the Eastern states, however, must com-
pete with producers of wool in remote and
semi-savage lands, Australia, Argentina, Pata-
gonia, the Falkland Islands and parts of our
own great West.
Breeders of Merino sheep have followed
many fashions and some that were their un-
doing. At one time the aim was to secure a
fleece of extreme fineness, though by this means
was secured a sheep of little stamina and of
small value for mutton production. Again the
aim sought was an excessive amount of oil
or ‘‘yolk’’ in the fleece, which made it heavier.
FINE-WOOL BREEDS. a8
This weakened the sheep, made it sensitive
to cold weather and, curiously enough, as the
weight of yolk increased in the wool manu-
facturers kept apace of the fact in buying,
and by paying for it on-a scoured basis there
was nothing at all gained to the grower who
sold the excessive amount of grease. A manu-
TWO-YEAR-OLD MERINO RAM.
facturer once related to the writer how in the
palmy days of heavy fleeces a celebrated ram’s
fleece was brought to him to be scoured; it
weighed 45 lbs., was probably of 18 or 24
months’ growth and made less than 12 lbs. of
scoured wool! ‘The farmer then had wasted
food enough to produce more than 30 lbs. of
24 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
a product of no utility whatever; in fact, being
only a drain on the strength of the animal
that produced it. It is of course essential
that wool should have a sufficient amount of
this yolk to preserve the fiber; more than this
is a damage in every way.
It would seem that now the ae in Merino
sheep have nearly disappeared and the breed-
ers at the present time are breeding useful
Merinos, with generally more size and _ better
forms and more of mutton quality than was
once seen.
The importance of the Merino breed will be
recognized when it is remembered that about
22,000,000 of the sheep of the United States
are of Merino foundation. The Merino is the
sheep of the range country, hardy in large
herds, of long life, though of slow maturity,
able to withstand more of ‘‘grief’’ than the
mutton breeds, and, most important to the
ranchmen, holding their fleeces to quite an age,
whereas under range conditions mutton breeds
soon become light shearers. However, it is
not now believed among Western ranchmen
that the Merino should be bred pure for their
purpose. ‘They use large numbers of mutton
rams and aim to keep in all their ewes a
strain of mutton blood, from 1%, to 1%, which
they find makes the ewes better mothers, being
more prolific and having a stronger milk flow.
Lambs from such ewes, sometimes from pure-
bred mutton rams, form the major part of
the supplies received in our great markets
from August till June. of clover or alfalfa.
After midsummer, however, it may be wise
to keep the flock entirely off this field, letting
‘HUOLLSVd ACISTIIH V NO SHANVI ONICHA
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 143
the clover or alfalfa get strong to withstand
the trial of the coming winter.
Young clover and alfalfa should never be
grazed hard nor be eaten close the first year
else the stand will be seriously weakened.
CLOVER AND ALFALFA PASTURE.
By all odds the most useful summer pas-
tures in the corn-belt are those composed of
clover or alfalfa. There are several dis-
tinguishing advantages of these crops: they
renew the soil, they are rich in protein and add
to the size, health and vigor of the sheep; they
afford a great amount of grazing and they are
almost absolutely free from danger of carrying
parasitic infection. The reason of this health-
fulness of these plants is that sheep crop the
higher leaves and stems, leaving the parts
close to the ground and thus escape germs
that may lurk down close to the earth.
Either red clover or alfalfa is too richly a
nitrogenous product, however, to be grazed
alone. Sheep confined to either of them must
eat too much protein and therefore will crave
food of more carbonaceous or starchy compo-
sition. They will greedily eat grasses or even
hay or dry straw to help balance their ration.
Therefore it is wise to sow a mixture of
grasses with the clovers. The best grasses for
this purpose are smooth brome grass and or-
chard grass. Either of these come on quickly
and give a continuous grazing with the clovers.
Of the two brome grass (Bromus inermis) is
by far the better, yielding more grazing and
144 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
being better relished by the stock. Indeed
this brome grass is one of the best pasture
grasses we have and of easy culture, though
it should always be sown in connection with
some clover, else it fails to yield as it should.
Red clover and alfalfa should not be mixed
together. If .they are the red clover having
the habit of more vigorous growth at first
crowds badly its slower neighbor. It is wise,
however, to put about 10 per cent of alfalfa
seed in all clover mixtures sown on suspected
alfalfa soil, for the small amount of alfalfa
will infeet the field with the alfalfa bacteria
so that in after years it may profitably all
be sown to alfalfa alone.
DANGER FROM CLOVER AND ALFALFA PASTURE.
Sheep grazing leguminous crops often suffer
from hoven, or bloat, caused by the fermenta-
tion of the tender leaves within the paunch.
The greatest danger of this 1s when the clover
is young and tender and growing rapidly.
After alfalfa becomes woody there is not
much danger from bloating. Nor is there so
much danger when grasses are mixed with the
clovers in the pasture. After sheep become ac-
eustomed to eating the clovers, they have then
learned somewhat by instinct how much to
store within. Pasturing on clovers is never
absolutely safe, yet certain simple rules will
almost always prevent trouble.
First, the clovers should have reached nearly
to the blossoming stage before turning in
the sheep.
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 145
The sheep should not be hungry. ‘They
should have a preliminary course ot feeding
of some sort till their appetites are well sated.
Perhaps a fill-up on good grass pasture will
generally best accomplish this.
They should go on the clover or altalfa pas-
ture atter eating all they will of other things
at about ten o’clock in the morning, at a time
when they naturally prefer to cease eating
and go to le in the shade.
They should be given salt as soon as put
upon pasture, and salt mixed with air-slaked
lime should be kept before them.
They should never thereafter be removed
night or day, rain or shine, as long as they
are desired to graze the field.
Of course they may have the run of an ad-
jJacent grass pasture, and be permitted to go
and come at will, but they must never be taken
away even tor a few hours and allowed to get
hungry and then returned to the clover or
alfalfa field. If they are, there is danger that
they will gorge themselves too suddenly and
bloating may result.
The writer devotes this much space to the
subject because he has had a long and suc-
cessful experience in pasturing clover and es-
pecially alfalfa with sheep, and in this practice
he has found these rules essential to success.
It.is well worth the risk, seeing that this pas-
ture returns such well-nourished and healthy
sheep and is so free from danger of parasitic
infection. The writer has annually lost from
2 to 4 per cent from bloat on alfalfa pasture,
146 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
commonly of animals not in the best health,
and if it has returned the other 96 or 98 per
cent in fine health to him, he considers the
sacrifice of small amount.
The following remedies for a bloated sheep
are good:
When first in distress, administer three
tablespoonfuls of raw linseed oil in which is
a teaspoonful or turpentine.
If this does not relieve at once, tie or hold
a large corn cob or stick of similar size ecross-
ways in the mouth lke a bridle bit; hold the
head up, stand astride the ewe and seek gently
to press out the gas with the knee. Do not
use too much force.
Pour several buckets of very cold water
slowly on the distended side over the paunch.
This often of itself relieves the distress by
stopping the accumulation of gas.
If there is too much distension for these
measures to relieve, make an incision on the
left side, hgh up, where the greatest disten-
sion is seen, and let the gas escape. A trochar
is best for this but a penknife will serve.
The incision should be just large enough to
insert some small tube—a small joint of cane
fishing pole, a pipe stem or goose quill.
Keep hold of the tube, else it will slip
within the paunch and be lost and perhaps do
serious damage to the sheep. After relief has
been had disinfect the wound. It should not
be large enough to need stitches but care must
be had that flies do not blow it. Pine tar will
repel flies. The wool should be cut away from
the wound.
STUDIES IN SHEEP CHARACTER,
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 149
There will be some years when there will
not be oceasion for any remedy whatever, and
with the same treatment there will be at other
times more or less trouble. During hot and
wet weather when alfalfa is stimulated to very
rapid growth more trouble may be expected.
The writer has been in the habit of pastur-
ing alfalfa and yet allowing the sheep to shade
in the barn, permitting them to come off in the
morning when it got too hot for their comfort.
He has, however, been careful that a boy
should stir ther out and send them fieldward
again by three or four o’clock in the after-
noon. .
In sowing alfalfa that probably may be pas-_
tured be sure to sow a mixture of brome
grass (Bromus inermis) with it. A light
scattering of brome seed is best, else it will
soon erowd out the alfalfa. We have had no
difficulty in eradicating the brome grass when
afterward the fields have been cultivated.
The writer has solved most of the problems
of summer management in the way outlined.
One serious trouble, however, remains for
solution. The ewes will often get too fat
under such treatment and sometimes refuse to
breed regularly. He has not yet found a solu-
tion of this problem. In England, where this
often occurs, the fat ewes would go for mut-
ton and there would end that difficulty, but
where one has a flock of pure-bred sheep of
considerable value this is not a satisfactory
solution for America.
We are at present practicing the breeding of
150 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
these reluctant ewes by compulsion. ‘'T’o catch
the ewe and permit the ram to serve her seems
to cause her afterward to come into season
naturally. We are hopeful of good results.
Where one is within reach of tracts of rough
and poor mountain pasture the problem is
solved in a natural way, by turning the flock
onto this thin grass where they must take
abundant exercise -by walking and climbing
and will not find an excess of food. This is the
natural way of preventing an excess of flesh.
It is not a safe plan to attempt reduction of
flesh by over pasturing of small and fertile
fields. The result is to cause the ewes to gnaw
into the ground for the herbage there and para-
sitie infection is pretty sure to follow.
THE USE OF RAPE.
Rape belongs to the same order of plants
as the cabbages and rape leaves have a similar
taste and appearance as cabbages. On rich
soil rape yields an astonishing amount of for-
age, which must be eaten green, as owing to
its watery nature it can not be cured into hay.
There seems a peculiar affmity between the
cabbage family and the sheep. Common eab-
bages, thousand-headed kale, rape, swede tur-
nips—all are greedily eaten and make good,
healthful development.
Rape comes in good play during the
drouths of autumn and after cool, frosty
weather has stopped the growth of grass in
the fall. It may be sown in the corn at the
time of the last working, using about three or
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 151
four pounds of seed to the acre and letting
the cultivator cover it. Should the season
prove moderately moist thereafter the rape
will come on and be ready to make a vigor-
ous growth as soon as the corn is cut. By
the middle of October it may be waist high
over the field and will afford an immense
amount of grazing until Christmas or later.
Care should be taken not to turn on rape
early in the morning in late fall when it is
frosted, as every leaf that is bent at that
time will blacken and decay. It takes a cold
of about 12 degrees to injure rape if it is not
disturbed until it has thawed again.
Sheep will fatten on rape, though an addi-
tion of grain is profitable and access to a grass
pasture or the regular feeding of good hay in
connection with it is very desirable. There
is some danger from bloat in rape feeding,
though the writer has never had to treat a
sheep for rape bloating nor lost one.
The Dwarf Essex seems the best variety to
SOW.
CABBAGES.
In fitting sheep for the show ring cabbages
are almost indispensable and for feeding in
fall and early winter they are most excellent.
In many places cabbage grows luxuriantly and
a given amount of sheep feed can probably
be as cheaply grown from this plant as in
any other way. In considering these foods it
must be borne in mind that a certain portion
of succulence is absolutely necessary to the
152 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
sheep if it is to be kept in perfect health.
It is less trouble to grow the common farm
crops of grain and hay and sheep can be
maintained upon them alone, but not in their
highest degree of health and profit. There
is also in the rape, turnips and cabbages some
YEARLING OXFORD RAM.
quality that makes for healthful growth of
wool.
PUMPKINS.
One of the best autumn and early winter
supplementary foods for sheep are pumpkins.
They are readily grown in the cornfield or
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 153
in a separate field by themselves and yield a
large amount of feed to the acre. Our method
of growing is to use pumpkin seeds to replant
with in the cornfield, putting them in where-
ever missing hills occur. In this manner we
have secured as high as two tons of pumpkins
LEICESTER RAM.
to the acre without in the least injuring the
crop of corn, provided the season proved
favorable. In fact, the shading of the ground
between the corn rows by the wide leaves of
the pumpkin vines serves to help conserve the
moisture when it is most needed and the corn
is often the better for the association of the
154 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
vines. It is safer, however, to plant pump-
kins by themselves.
Pumpkins serve the flock in two ways: first,
as a direct and healthful food of considerable
nutritive value and yet never dangerous from
excessive richness, and next from the direct
medicinal value of the seeds. Pumpkin seeds
are among the best vermifuges known. They
should never be removed from the pumpkins
but fed all together, and if fed in considerable
amounts the direct and immediate improve-
ment in the flock will be very apparent. Tape-
worms have never troubled the writer’s flock in
the least and no other reason can be attributed
than the annual liberal pumpkin feeding.
The way to feed pumpkins is to strew them
about the pasture without cutting them open
at all, or at least cutting only a few of them. If
many are cut the sheep eat only the soft in-
side parts at first, with the seeds, and might
in this way get toe many seeds for their good,
whereas when they must gnaw a way into the
pumpkin they will eat it up clean before at-
tacking another. The pumpkins keep better to
be seattered over the field than to be piled
in piles, at least before frost strikes them.
The secret in growing pumpkins is, first, to
have the land rich, then to plant a great sur-
plus of seeds. The striped cucumber beetle
revels on pumpkin leaves, and if not enough
are planted for him and you also he will reap
the entire harvest at an early date. They may
be thinned after beginning to vine.
It is particularly desirable to have the ewe
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 155
flock thriving and increasing in flesh at time
of breeding. Not only will the lambs con-
ceived at such a time be of superior vigor but
there will be a larger number of twins among
them.
CARE OF THE FEET.
When the sheep are turned to pasture in
the spring their feet should be carefully
trimmed and shortened. It is easier to do this,
however, if they are permitted to go in the wet
erass for a day or two and are taken in while
their feet are yet wet. They will at such a time
cut like cheese, whereas if they are trimmed
and shortened. It is easier to do this, however,
if they are permitted to go in the wet grass
for a day or two and are taken in while their
feet are yet wet. They will at such a time
eut like cheese, whereas if they are trimmed
when dry they will be very horny in texture.
Nature evidently intended the sheep for
climbing over very rocky soils where the feet
would be subjected to rapid wear. It is prob-
able, too, that in selecting individuals for their
superior wool growth the horn growth of the
feet has kept pace with the wool growth in
some degree, since there is a relationship be-
tween horn growth and wool. In any event it
is very unlikely that with the amount of travel
needed on arable farms the sheep will suffi-
ciently wear down their feet to relieve the
shepherd of need to trim them twice a year,
and with some breeds more often.
The aim of trimming should be to keep the
156 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
feet as short as possible, not to cut to the
quick, so that they may be able to stand natur-
ally and squarely upon them. It is probable
that lack of trimming is in some degree re-
sponsible for disease of the feet. Diseases
may occur, unfortunately, even in feet that
have been well trimmed, and the subject must
have attention.
FOOT-ROT AND FOOT-SCALD.
The shepherd commonly makes a distinction
between a simple contagious affection of the
foot called ‘‘foot scald’’ and the real and very
serious disease, also contagious, called foot-
rot. ‘There seems reason to believe that there
is a form of foot scald that rapidly goes
through a flock yet readily yields to treat-
ment that is distinet from the more severe and —
less easily eradicated foot-rot.
It is the belief of the writer, however, that
quite often the shepherd hides his genuine foot-
rot behind the more harmless appellation.
There is, however, an inflammation of the
skin between the claws of the foot that does
not extend beneath the horny covering of the
foot itself and that yields quite readily to a
simple treatment of putting the sheep upon
a dry footing, cleansing from filth and an ap-
plication of some coal tar .dip or ecarbolic
acid.
When the disease has penetrated beneath the
shell of the foot and there is found there a
watery, evil-smelling exudation it is genuine
foot-rot and should have immediate and thor- -
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT, 157
ough treatment, with preventive measures to
preclude its spreading to the rest of the flock.
First it is necessary to pare away all the
horn that hides the diseased surface. 'The dis-
ease being one of germ origin, there is no
hope of cure except through the complete de-
struction of the germs, and they must therefore
be uncovered from their hiding. A sharp
knife in the hands of a careful and thorough
man is a kind thing to the afflicted sheep, even
though it may cause some temporary pain.
When once the diseased surface is laid bare
it is only necessary to wet it well with strong
solution of blue vitriol (sulphate of copper), or
butyr of antimony, to bind it up if much horn
has been cut away and keep the sheep on dry
footing for a time.
It is necessary, however, to prevent the
spread of the disease through the flock. To do
this all feet should be carefully trimmed and
any sore ones given individual treatment.
Then a trough 6” wide in the bottom, 12”
wide at the top, 12” deep and about 10’
long should be made of three two-inch planks.
This must be enclosed with hurdles so that the
sheep may be caused to pass through it. The
writer has fastened such a trough at the door
of the sheep barn so that in order to pass out
the flock must pass through the trough. Then
it was only necessary to confine the flock for a
time and they would of their own accord go
out, each one walking through the trough.
This treatment was given daily for a week
or so, as it took little of the shepherd’s time
158 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA.
and was inexpensive. By this means foot. dis-
orders were eradicated from the flock after
having caused much trouble.
In the trough was placed a simple lime
whitewash, in which was sufficient blue vitriol
to give it a blue color. This effectually pre-
vented the spread of the disease and cured
many cases in their incipiency.
In no other business is it more true that ‘‘a
stitch in time saves nine’’ than in the care of
sheep.
It is unfortunate that the average American
shepherd ‘‘sells out’? when foot disease
strikes his flock when he can so easily control
and eradicate the disease. ‘Troubles must
come in all endeavors, so when one has been
suffered and the remedy therefor found it
is not a reason for abandonment of enterprise
but the more reason for continuance, rather
than to ‘‘fly to troubles we know not of.”’
ADVENT OF LATE LAMBS.
There are situations where it is desirable
that lambing should be delayed until grass
comes. When forage and grain are scarce
and the means not at hand to well nourish the
ewe after lambing until grass comes, when in-
deed grass is the chief asset of the shepherd,
it is wise to time the lambing so that the lambs
will come at about the same time as the grass.
Indeed a lamb dropped then will make a far
better growth than one dropped weeks earlier
from a poorly-nourished ewe, half starved by
its mother because she cannot give it much
SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 159
milk before she herself has been fed. Nor will
such a ewe respond in her milk flow to green
grass as she would did her lamb come after
grass has started anew in her veins a vigorous
coursing of the vital fluid.
- It is most wise, however, to see to it that
these late lambing ewes are strengthened by
some supplementary feeding before the jambs
appear.