844 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



of the land, or the subsistence of the animal on weeds and surplus for- 

 age that would otherwise go to waste were it not consumed by the 

 sheep. When sheep are grained or full fed the average cost is nearly 

 doubled, likewise the profits. 



An item of expense is the wages paid farm hands or herders, which 

 runs from $18 to $25 per month, board included. The wages of day 

 laborers during the lambing and shearing season is about $1, or if 

 sheared by the head the usual price is 6 to 7 cents per sheep. 



Among the local advantages for the sheep industry enumerated by 

 the sheepmen is the abundance of cheap feed and grazing lands, and an 

 everlasting supply of good water in the streams or never-failing wells. 

 The land is dry and rolling, the climate favorable, and the winters usu- 

 ally dry and free from snow. In the northwest part of Nebraska the 

 land is very rolling, affording natural protection for the sheep from cold 

 winds and rain. Much of the land consists of sandy soil which is well 

 grassed over. In the southeastern part of the State the soil is a black 

 loam which produces grain, grass, and root crops in great abundance, 

 and makes it a great and unsurpassed location for feeding Western 

 sheep, or maturing mutton sheep. The native grasses are everywhere 

 abundant, and in the western part of the State, in addition to good hay 

 lands, there are the buffalo and grama grasses, which afford excellent 

 pasturage during the winter months. The atmosphere is dry and in- 

 vigorating. In many portions of the State the dry climate enables the 

 land to be utilized and benefited that would otherwise remain vacant 

 and unoccupied. 



The chief drawbacks and disadvantages encountered by those en- 

 gaged in the sheep industry in Nebraska are the ignorance and preju- 

 dice of many farmers and stockmen against the business, and who, 

 therefore, are not disposed either to encourage or experiment with 

 sheep husbandry. In the thickly settled portions of the State sheepmen 

 do not secure sufficient cheap range for large flocks, and the unfenced 

 farms make herding difficult. This, with the prevalence of numerous 

 worthless dogs, which ravage the flocks and are the natural and per- 

 sistent enemy of sheep, are a constant menace to the sheep industry. 



Another difficulty encountered in the rich farming districts is the 

 prevalence of cockle and sand burs, which get into the fleece where 

 sheep are allowed to run in the fields after the crops are garnered. In 

 central Nebraska, where the prairie grass of the blue- stem variety 

 affords the bulk of pasturage, the grazing season is too short, as the 

 grass starts late in the spring and the heavy frosts in the fall reduce 

 the time of pasturage and require too long a feeding period. 



There are no prevailing diseases of any importance 5 the sheep are 

 reported uniformly healthy. The exceptional ailments mentioned are 

 grub in the head, goiter, and some lung affection. Scab is occasionally 

 brought in from the west, and last season some small flocks were 

 troubled with ticks, but after a thorough dipping these few cases were 

 soon eradicated. 



