904 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



have finally made a failure because they let the sheep take care of 

 themselves and did not provide the necessary shelter or feed. 



Sheepmen have demonstrated that the best methods for profitably 

 conducting their business in this portion of the State is to start with a 

 flock of the best sheep obtainable. The ranch should supply abundant 

 pasturage for the year and have the necessary shelter for all purposes, 

 either natural, sheds, or barns. It is universally the case that when a 

 severe and unexpected storm occurs the amount of loss resulting from 

 such exposure would provide permanent shelter. As a matter of 

 economy, therefore, it is wise to have such provisions on every ranch. 

 It is imperative that the breeding and handling of the stock should be 

 done judiciously. The sheep should be fed without stint whenever the 

 grazing is not sufficient. The animal should be kept in good condition 

 and growing thriftily all the time from lambhood to maturity. A well- 

 fed sheep will produce more and better wool and a larger mutton carcass 

 than a sheep that is half starved or otherwise neglected. The sheep, 

 of all live stock, gives more profit than any other animal for sufficient 

 feed and pure water and careful attention. Experience shows that 

 while it costs money and time to feed, shelter, and attend sheep prop- 

 erly, yet at the same time it is a judicious and profitable investment. 

 The range used should be fenced or so secured that the sheep can 

 graze it exclusively. It is better to have a winter and a summer range, 

 so that each may be used only in the proper season and the flock 

 changed every few weeks to different portions. Employ none but ex- 

 perienced help. Use pure-bred bucks, always giving them extra care. 

 In central Texas feeding is necessary a part of the year, hence it is 

 advisable to cultivate sufficient land to produce the required feed. 

 Some flockmasters, however, do not practice this system, from belief 

 that it is not economical. They are slow to abandon old methods and 

 adopt others more progressive and practical, which the future success 

 of the industry surely demands, because their brethren are successful 

 under the old method 200 miles farther west on the open range of the 

 unoccupied State lands, where they seldom shelter or feed, as the alti- 

 tude is higher, storms rarely occur, the atmosphere is drier, and the 

 early mesquite grass better suited to winter grazing. In central Texas 

 the rainfall is greater and may wash the grass so that it loses its nutri- 

 tious quality; but corn, oats, millet, sorghum, and cotton seed are easily 

 produced and furnish excellent feed. 



Mutton breeds of sheep are raised only on a limited scale here, but 

 would undoubtedly do well in the hands of the general farmer who 

 would run them in small flocks of from 50 to 100 head or even larger. 

 The wethers could readily be sold in the local markets, or in carloads 

 they would give much better returns than the light weights, which are 

 now sent, to Kansas City and Chicago. 



