230 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



lambs as the mountains southwest of them, but very 

 superior feeding lambs come from these ranges. 



There was once small preparation made for win- 

 ter feeding in this region. There is today a great 

 deal of hay being put up, both of native and alfalfa 

 sorts. When snow is deep "snow plows " are used, 

 which make bare strips along which the flocks feed. 

 Sometimes corn is fed scattered on the ground. In 

 some parts of this country the summer and winter 

 ranges are distinct, the flocks climbing into the 

 mountains during the heated season and relieving 

 the range of their presence ; in other parts the moun- 

 tains are too remote and the sheep use nearby parts 

 of the range for both summer and winter grazing. 



Except on farms in the East there is no other part 

 of the United States where much increase in num- 

 bers of sheep kept can be made. Here double the 

 numbers now kept may be and some day doubtless 

 will be kept when the cattlemen turn sheep breeders. 



MANAGEMENT OF RANGE EAMS. 



The "buck herd" is a necessary institution upon 

 the range, and often a troublesome proposition it is. 

 There are usually kept about 30 rams to the thou- 

 sand ewes, though some growers use a larger num- 

 ber. Various methods are adopted to keep these 

 rams between breeding seasons. They are some- 

 times pastured in a fenced pasture and corralled at 

 night to keep them from coyotes. Sometimes they 

 are herded where there are enough of them on a 

 ranch to make a herd, and he must indeed be an 



