878 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



State produces a greater variety of forage plants, and it surpasses 

 most Western States in the production of sorghum, alfalfa, rye, and 

 millet. Grazing is afforded most of the year, and the feeding season 

 does not usually exceed from two to three months. Lands are cheap 

 and productive, and no other agricultural State can produce so much 

 feed at so little cost. The fleece grown by experienced sheepmen has 

 a fine, strong fiber, and good length of staple. Indeed, nature seems 

 to provide all the necessary elements for profitable sheep husbandry. 



There is no class of stock raised in Kansas that meets with as little 

 loss from disease as sheep. By reason of neglect or indifferent manage- 

 ment there are occasional cases of snuffles, tapeworm, grub in the head; 

 ticks and scab are sometimes prevalent, but nothing of a serious nature 

 has been reported. The chief loss is from dogs and wolves. There 

 has been very little loss during recent years from exposure. The losses 

 from dogs and wolves range all the way from 1 to 10 per cent. The 

 losses from all these sources, including incompetent management, 

 seldom exceeds 5 per cent per annum for the whole State. 



Secretary Mohler, of the State board of agriculture, places the loss 

 of sheep in Kansas for 1891, from all causes, at 5,475. 



According to high authority most of the losses of sheep, either by 

 depredations or disease, are traceable to dogs. Eecently Prof. L. 0. 

 Wooster, of the Eureka (Kans.) Academy, in a lecture on " Some of our 

 Friends and Foes of the Animal World," in speaking of dogs, said: 

 "Prof. Terrell, of Yale, says that many of these parasites are derived 

 from dogs through their omnivorous habits; also, that it is perfectly 

 safe to say that twenty- five sheep die from parasites derived from dogs 

 to one killed by the teeth of dogs, and that fifty persons die from the 

 same parasites to one from hydrophobia." He declares further that the 

 loss of human life each year more than counterbalances all the good 

 all the dogs in the civilzed world could possibly do. 



If it is worth while to have sheep at all they should be good ones, 

 because it costs no more to feed and take care of good sheep than of 

 inferior ones. To make them profitable good management, shelter, and 

 care are imperative. An ample supply of water and feed should always 

 be given them. During six months of the year the wild and tame 

 pastures will answer, then the stubble and stalk fields should be utilized, 

 and during fall and winter the fields of wheat and rye. Good hay, corn 

 fodder, and about a bushel of grain daily to 100 sheep during winter 

 are sufficient. It is necessary to avoid confining them too closely. They 

 require exercise daily, and appreciate a variety of feeds, such as are 

 accessible wherever wheat is grown. 



Another important matter is suitable yards and sheds, which should 

 be inaccessible to dogs or wolves. Sheep must be yarded every night, 

 winter or summer. The yard should contain water and have suitable 

 racks for grain or roughness in winter, although it is considered best 

 to feed straw and hay on the ground, or perhaps in racks so constructed 



