264 FARM ANIMALS 



the limits of the local markets the large central 

 markets are available for such sheep and at re- 

 munerative prices, as shown by a number of ex- 

 periments along this line. If the ranchman can 

 raise large quantities of alfalfa he will find no 

 way of securing so large a price for it as by feeding 

 it to lambs, since they will return from $7 to $15 

 per ton in localities where the market price of 

 alfalfa is not above $5. 



The same problem of what to do with range 

 lambs has come up before the sheep raiser of 

 South Dakota and has been solved in the same 

 manner. He has found it desirable to feed his 

 lambs on local grains such as emmer, macaroni 

 wheat, and barley together with liberal rations 

 of alfalfa, clover or other forage plants. In 

 certain localities of Utah the local market for 

 mutton is already supplied and during the past 

 eight years it has been found more profitable to 

 feed lambs for the eastern markets than for the 

 local market. It seems to be the practice of the 

 local dealers in Utah to regulate the price of lambs 

 by the prevailing prices in the central markets, 

 subtracting the estimated cost of the transpor- 

 tation. This estimate is, however, frequently put 

 so high that the western feeder has found it to his 

 advantage to prepare to put the finest possible 

 finish on his lambs and ship them East in direct 

 competition with the eastern sheep feeders. The 

 range lamb does not usually suffer in this com- 

 petition and the practice is therefore increasing. 

 The same story comes from Wyoming and other 

 parts of the range country where a really serious 

 effort has been carried on by men who have made 

 a study of the requirements of sheep and the de- 

 mand of the market regarding the quality and 

 form of mutton. 



