MICHIGAN LIVE STOCK IN 1899. 



SHEEP. 



C. p. REYNOLDS. 



Sheep husbandry iu Michigan for the year of 1899 will compare favor- 

 ably with the results of other years. Reports from various portions of 

 the State indicate that the wool clip has been usually large and the 

 quality generally good. The lambing season has been attended with 

 good results, and a large number of home-grown lambs will be conditioned 

 for the markets during this, and the forepart of the coming year. Flock 

 masters are fast recruiting their flocks with desirable sheep^ and indica- 

 tions are very favorable generallj^ 



Sheep raising is occupying the attention of a large portion of the 

 farmers of the State. Some who have not handled sheep in several years 

 are laying a foundation for a flock; others who have held to their flock 

 through depressions are making preparations for an increase in numbers. 

 The value of grade breeding ewes depends entirely on age and general 

 quality, but as a rule prices will range between three dollars and five 

 dollars per head. Grade sheep of good quality outside of these limits 

 are an exception and not the general rule. Pure bred, but unregistered, 

 sheep will range in value about the same. 



The popularity of the better bred sheep is constantly increasing. 

 Farmers are more thoroughly appreciating the fact that better breeding 

 pays; in conformity with this more well bred, including both pure bred 

 and registered, rams will be used among the average farm flocks during 

 the breeding season of 1899 than during any recent years. 



It would be impossible to give an accurate estimate of the ruling 

 breed, though in all probability the demands for a sheep that would 

 be fair at both wool and mutton has led to a very liberal crossing with 

 the English breeds. Consequently, without any attempt to argue the 

 superiority of one or the inferiority of the other, it is safe to assert that 

 among average farmers, who are making no attempt to breed anything 

 but grade flocks for wool and mutton purposes, the rams with English 

 tracings predominate. Reports are to the effect that coarse wool sheep 

 breeders have no trouble to dispose of all surplus stock at fair prices; 

 while in some cases fine wool breeders can not supply demands. 



This seems to be a good indication, and it is undoubtedly a fact, that the 

 demand for fine wools is improving. This seems to be borne out by the 

 fact that the fine wools have ranged close to the top generally in the 

 Eastern market, if not topping it entirely. ,This is something that has 

 not occurred before to any such extent in years, and must mean that the 

 wool sheep is coming once more into popular favor. Good authorities 

 have given it as the opinion that there will be more fine wool rams used 

 among the flocks of Michigan during the mating season of 1899 than has 

 been the case in several years. This is due in all probability to the con- 

 stantly growing scarcity of the fine wool sheep heretofore, and the 

 49 



