816 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



writer by D. L. How, Shakopolis, Eeiiville County, who gives the annual 

 cost for 400 wethers and 8 bucks, as follows : 



Interest and taxes on 160 acres of land fenced with four galvanized wires $350 



Interest and repairs on well 260 feet deep, windmill, and tank 50 



Oats, straw, and salt 20 



Grain and ground feed fed from February 1 to May 1 100 



Expense and shipping after shearing 20 



Cost of lumber in caring for sheep at 25 cents per head 100 



Total cost for this flock 640 



Or $1.60 per head. 



The returns the sheep give to the farm are of course not considered 

 in Mr. How's estimate. 



Among the local disadvantages and obstacles encountered by sheep- 

 raisers in Minnesota are wolves in the timber portions of the State and 

 dogs everywhere. However, the ravages are perhaps less than in the 

 other agricultural States. There is very little trouble from wolves, 

 thanks to the judicious wolf-bounty law. In the prairie districts of the 

 State the farmers receive about $11,000 every year in the way of boun- 

 ties for exterminating them. The greatest loss from wolves is in the 

 timber country. The sheepmen who live in the prairie counties say that 

 a first-class dog law would be of great benefit to the sheep industry. 

 As it is now every sheep-owner must be a law unto himself with the 

 aid of a trusty shotgun. Owing to the settlement of the country, it is 

 necessary to have fences that will restrain the flocks inclosed in pas- 

 tures which are owned by the sheepmen. The fences that will turn 

 horses and cattle will not restrain sheep unless about double the expense 

 is incurred. Another disadvantage is the long winter, which necessi- 

 tates a protracted period of dry feed, such as grain and hay, adding to 

 the expense of maintaining the flocks. However, the compensation of 

 the increase in both the fleece and carcass will more than offset the 

 extra period and cost of feeding. 



The chief natural advantages for sheep husbandry in Minnesota as 

 given by sheep-owners themselves are substantially as follows : Free- 

 dom from disease of all kinds; abundance of nutritious grasses and 

 hay; cheap grain feed and abundance of wheat and oat straw, which is 

 quite valuable for rough feed, and practically costs nothing; the near- 

 ness of Nebraska and Iowa cornfields; unusually good local markets; 

 the abundance of good water and shade in almost every county; clover 

 and timothy is easily grown; the winter ordinarily dry and cold; the 

 climate healthful and invigorating, which makes it easy to produce 

 robust sheep; root crops are easily produced and are excellent feed for 

 sheep, to be used in connection with dry, coarse feed. 



Little or no complaint is made by sheepmen regarding any diseases. 

 The main difficulties encountered are the common ailments caused by 

 neglect. Some seasons ticks are quite numerous, making it necessary 

 for the sheep-owner to incur the expense of dipping the flock. Scab is 



