942 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



Sheep that are brought in from other States do not do well the first 

 year, or until they become acclimated and accustomed to methods of 

 handling, but usually the mortality is quite small. 



There are quite a number of sheepmen who make a specialty of breed- 

 ing pure-bred Merinos or half-blood French for the home trade, and the 

 majority of rams used in the Territory are raised by Arizona breeders. 

 Some buy their rams, both Shropshire and Spanish Merinos, of eastern 

 breeders, but the home breeders have the bulk of the ram trade. Cali- 

 fornia has a very fair trade here, especially with French Merinos. It 

 was rather surprising to note that so many were trying the experiment 

 of the Shropshire cross with a view to securing a better carcass in 

 order to realize better prices for the muttons, mainly to Los Angeles and 

 San Francisco markets as well as to the eastern feeders and packers, 

 who pay more per head for large- sized wethers. Those who have tried 

 this mutton cross seem to be quite well pleased. The bulk of the rams 

 used, however, are two years old and upward Merino or French 

 bucks. 



The general rule has been to provide about three rams to each one 

 hundred ewes, but in the better flocks, where the best rams are used, 

 from fifty to seventy -five ewes are bred to the ram, especially if the 

 buck is in good condition and feed is plenty. The ewes are bred gen- 

 erally during November or December; only a very few breed earlier 

 unless located down in the valleys or further south. The preferred time 

 for turning in the rams is about December 1, and they are allowed to 

 remain with the flock from thirty to sixty days. From 1 to 10 per cent 

 of the ewes fail to breed, or perhaps an average of 5 per cent for the 

 Territory. The per cent of lambs raised is from 70 to 90 per cent, or an 

 average of not less than 75 per cent. 



Formerly the main object of the sheep-breeder was to produce wool 

 and sheep which had always been bred with especial reference to that 

 end, but as the ewes were ordinarily good-sized Merinos, having con- 

 siderable French blood in the flocks, they soon found that these large- 

 bodied Merinos with good constitutions were considered fairly good 

 mutton sheep, and there was considerable of a demand for them in 

 California markets as well as a local demand. Buyers offered prices 

 for fat wethers which realized the owner more than the wool, so that 

 during recent years the flockmasters have bred with some special refer- 

 ence to the mutton qualities of the animal; that is, while the sheepmen 

 did not change to mutton bucks except as an experiment, they selected 

 the ram having mutton tendencies without sacrificing the wool qualities. 

 Those who have tried the Shropshire cross are well pleased with the 

 experiment. They secure a larger carcass and usually a more vigorous 

 and robust lamb. From the satisfaction expressed with this cross it 

 bids fair to become quite popular. The ewes are bred back to pure- 

 bred Spanish or French Merino rams with good effect. 



The time of shearing sheep in Arizona usually takes place in May or 



