832 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Jas. Edgerton, Nassau, Keokuk County: . 



My first ten-years' experience as a flockmaster was had in Ohio; and twenty-five 

 years ago, when I began in Iowa, we had plenty of free range and I kept from 1,000 

 to 1,500 head, but since we have been restricted to our own land I winter from five 

 to six hundred, all that I can well accommodate in barns. When the weather is 

 suitable my sheep run on cornstalks and grass land, but get penned or stabled at 

 nights, winter or summer. 



A. J. Jewell, Oskaloosa, Mahaska, County: 



I have about 400 sheep now, and have been handling them continually for thirty 

 years. My sheep run out all winter, yet they can go in the barn or shed if they 

 choose. I feed about one bushel of corn per day to 100 sheep. We have no outside 

 range now, hence must reduce the size of our flocks. The interest in sheep hus- 

 bandry is good and growing better. 



F. F. Warner, Bloomfield, Davis County: 



I have cared for sheep for the past thirty years and am well satisfied with the busi- 

 ness. I have never tried to keep very many, but have been careful about feeding in 

 winter, also selecting the bucks I breed from. Of late years there has been a great 

 improvement in the way of keeping sheep, both in feeding and breeding. If prices 

 for mutton hold out the business will continue to improve. 



Channing Welch, Ayrshire, Palo Alto County: 



Had sheep in northwestern Iowa for eleven years, and find them very healthy and 

 profitable in small flocks. They pay about $3 per head per year in increase and 

 wool, requiring but little care and labor in comparison with their returns. The de- 

 mand for breeding ewes is large, and more farmers are becoming interested in them. 

 Our falls and winters are dry, and contagious diseases are almost unknown. Wo 

 feed liberally with prairie hay, which is thrown on the .ground; so also is the grain 

 feed in many instances. 



E. Osburn, Van Buren, Jackson County: 



I am not in the sheep business very extensively, but keep from 150 to 170 Shrop- 

 shires, full-bloods and grades. Every year I feed a carload of lambs, which I ship 

 to Chicago about March, and receive from $6.50 to $7.30 per hundred. While the 

 present prospects are encouraging, sheepmen in this State would be pleased to have 

 some legislation done in their interests in the way of offering a liberal bounty for 

 the destruction of both dogs and wolves. 



W. C. Nichols and Son, Ceresco, Howard County: 



We have handled sheep more or less for the past twenty years, the common sheep 

 first, then began crossing with Shropshire bucks thirteen years ago. We liked this 

 cross so well that we invested in five registered ewes of this breed. After this we 

 began importing from England, until now we have about 500 head, all registered. 

 Last season we sold to breeders, farmers, and ranchmen two hundred head at from 

 $25 to $200 a piece. Our sales have extended from Vermont to California. The 

 average weight of fleeces from our flock is 13f pounds. 



S. A. Converse, Ceresco, Howard County : 



For twelve years I have had from 200 to 400 head of sheep ; have had no epidemic 

 or contagious diseases ; my sheep run on the same pasture all the time, which is 

 flat, low, prairie land. As nearly everybody is investing in sheep there will be a 

 great increase in numbers for the next five years, when the country will be overrun, 

 everybody sick of sheep, and the business flat. The greatest drawback to ti?e in- 

 dustry is dogs, though I have lost none by them, for I yard close every night and 

 kill all the dogs that come around. 



