902 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



ent. They have better care, but many owners breed them too heavily 

 the first year. It is a common thing to give such rams 100 ewes, so as ] 

 to get even the first year. The ranis in use in central Texas are princi- ; 

 pally Merinos, either high grade or pure-bred, 2 years old and upward. 

 From two to three bucks are given to every 100 ewes during the month 

 of October, remaining with the flocks from four to six weeks. In good 

 flocks properly handled about 90 per cent of the lambs dropped are 

 raised, and about 10 per cent of the ewes fail to breed. Sometimes the 

 loss of lambs is greater, but it is needless with proper vigilance and 

 management. 



Sheep run out most of the year without other shelter than such as 

 nature provides, yet there are days during three or four months of fall 

 and winter when shelter is absolutely necessary, and most of the pru- 

 dent and experienced sheepmen have such shelter. It generally con- 

 sists of a shed open to the south, well covered with boards, and usually 

 located on the south side of timber or slope. Some of the flockmasters 

 have provided span-roofed sheds, barn shaped, which are well ventilated, 

 and can be closed up, so that perfect protection is insured against the 

 most severe storms which may occur in winter. These sheds are also 

 utilized during the lambing season and at shearing time. 



Wool is the main object in sheep-raising here, although since mutton 

 has come into more general demand and brings remunerative prices 

 much more attention is directed to the mutton-producing features of the 

 industry, and the mutton qualities are considered in the selection of 

 the breeding stock. Mutton will not become as much an object as wool 

 with sheep-raising so long as theproduct must be sold in distant markets. 

 The long haul and high freight rates discourage any such tendency. 

 Owing to the demand for mutton, more sheep were sold from Texas 

 flocks during 1889 and 1890 than ever before. These sales consisted of 

 aged ewes and wethers equal in numbers to the increase by the lamb 

 crop. There is at present a decided tendency, however, to breed for 

 mutton qualities as much as possible without sacrificing anything in the 

 number of pounds of wool. The breeding stock is selected and bred to 

 secure as large size and smooth bodies as possible. The small-sized 

 and very wrinkly Merino rams are not so much in demand as formerly. 



The sheep in central Texas will shear from 6 to 9 pounds, or an 

 average of about 7 pounds. The wool is generally sold as "light fine" 

 or "fine medium," and some lots as " heavy fine." The wool is mostly 

 sold at the ranch, and this season it netted the grower from 18 to 22 

 cents a pound. It is bought by local merchants or representatives 

 from St. Louis houses. A considerable number of the sheepmen con- 

 sign their wool to commission merchants in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and 

 Boston. The best market for mutton in less than car lots is that of 

 the local butchers. For car lots Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis 

 are the chief markets. About one fourth of the flocks are now regu- 

 larly disposed of either for mutton or as stockers. The gross weight of 



