COST OF RUNNING STOCK ON RANGES 203 



Losses from bad years, short calf crops, disease, cattle 

 thieves cut deeply into the profits. Free grass is a 

 myth. The eastern farmer who complains of the com- 

 petition from cattle and sheep "raised on free Govern- 

 ment grass" forgets these items which, alas, cannot well 

 be counted. 



Cost of Raising Sheep. The report of the United 

 States Tariff Board on the cost of raising sheep on the 

 western ranges contains some very interesting and in- 

 structive information which should be closely studied 

 by every sheepowner desirous of reducing his expenses 

 to a minimum, because it shows just where the money 

 goes in handling sheep in the western range states. 

 Tables 1 and 2 are taken from this report. 



The average annual labor cost per head of sheep, in- 

 cluding the food and lodging of the employes, is about 

 82 cents in our western states, about 7 cents in Australia 

 and 23 cents in South America. In the West the labor- 

 ers include superintendents, herders, camptenders, 

 cooks, general ranch hands and extra men employed at 

 lambing time. Of the total average charge, which is 82 

 cents, about 63 cents goes to the first three classes, who 

 are usually employed throughout the year. 



Table 1 shows the rates of wages, including board, 

 paid in the different states. The varying nationality of 

 the men employed has much to do with the difference 

 which affects both wages and food costs. In the South- 

 west, for example, where Mexican labor is employed, 

 the average monthly wages of a herder range from 

 about $22 to $35 and the cost of his food ranges from 

 about $11 to $14, making a total average monthly 

 charge of from about $33 to $49; whereas in Idaho the 

 average monthly wages of a herder are about $48 and 



