WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 851 



W. E. Artman, West Point, Gumming County: 



The sheep-breeding business is on the decline because we have so little range left, 

 but there are about 25,000 Western sheep fattened here each year. It takes about a 

 bushel and a half to two bushels of shelled corn daily per 100 head until grass comes. 

 Our winters are too long and severe to try to winter sheep without grain or proper 

 shelter. 



Ben. F. Grant, Pilger, Stan ton County: 



My experience in sheep husbandry extends over a period of eleven years, during 

 which time I have been successful in making it pay me. I feed well in the winter 

 and have good range in the summer. I keep the old sheep out of my flock by getting 

 them fat and on the market before they get too old. Hay is plentiful and I feed it 

 liberally. I expect to handle sheep here yet a number of years. 



P. Jansen, Jansen, Jefferson County: 



Have for a number of years been considerably interested in sheep-feeding. The 

 winter of 1890 and 1891 I fed 37,000 sheep, and the past winter 21,000 head. Some 

 years ago, when we had range for sheep, I raised a good many, but now I feed for 

 mutton altogether. Every farmer ought to keep a small flock of sheep. They are 

 the best kind of " mortgage lifters." 



Odbert & Winett, Lincoln, Lancaster County: 



___ We have been in the sheep business in this State for the past twelve years, feeding 

 most of the time and handling on an average 5,000 sheep. We buy most of our sheep 

 on the range in Oregon or Utah, and drive and graze, reaching western Nebraska in 

 October or November, when we ship direct to the feeding yards in this county and 

 begin marketing in January. We find the business improving all the time, as the 

 demand for mutton grows. 



F. E. Swartz, Max, Dundy County : 



For twelve years I have been engaged in the sheep business, having handled from 

 800 to 1,200 head, and have raised cattle, horses, and hogs at the same time, and find 

 that sheep have made more money for me than any of the other stock in the long 

 run, and I will stay with them for awhile yet. I desire to increase the weight of 

 my sheep. The only disease I have had in iny flocks is one case of scab, brought in 

 from Colorado or New Mexico. 



W. S. Griffith, Turner, Holt County: 



I began sheep-raising in this county six years ago with 200 head. Since then have 

 bought more, and have shipped a few every year. Last year I wintered 700, raised 

 300 lambs, and fed and shipped 300 head, which netted me $1,150. The wool brought 

 $730. We raise most of the corn we feed, and estimate that the feed and cost per 

 head is about $1.25 per year. Much of our land has gone in the hands of loan com- 

 panies and Eastern speculators, hence we have an abundance of range. 



Eaton & Gifford, Wood Kiver, Hall County: 



Our experience in sheep husbandry dates back to 1873, commencing in Russell 

 County, Kans., and we have fed from 2,000 to 10,000 every year since except two 

 1884 and 1891. We buy our sheep in Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, and 

 Colorado. Have always fed mature wethers until this year, when we fed a few 

 lambs and yearlings. The greatest difficulty we have to contend with is rain and 

 mud, which seems to be getting worse each year. We think the industry is grow- 

 ing, and that next year there will be more sheep fed than there has been the past 

 season. 



