SHEEP 







0m 



NE of the oldest as well as one of the most 

 important enterprises in world agriculture 

 is sheep raising. Wool ranking next to 

 cotton among the fibers has probably con- 

 tributed even more than cotton to the com- 

 fort of man in the spread of civilization. 

 Present world consumption of wool is about 

 2 pounds per capita and of the United 

 States, one of the world's largest consum- 

 ers of wool, per capita requirement is about 

 5 pounds. 



Lamb and mutton likewise have been im- 

 portant items of food for man. During 

 the period 1912-1921 average annual per 

 capita consumption of lamb and mutton in 

 the United States was 6.2 pounds. Canada 

 in 1910 averaged 9 pounds. Great Britain 

 from 1895 to 1908 averaged 26.7 pounds; 

 France in 1904 consumed 9 pounds, and 

 Germany from 1904 to 1913 averaged only 

 2.2 pounds. There is, therefore, a wide 

 ^ variation in consumption of these meats. 



At one time sheep were raised primarily for wool in the surplus producing 

 regions that were usually remote from civilization and afforded low production 

 costs against which wool, as a concentrated product could be readily transported 

 long distances, without spoilage and at low cost. 



The pioneer phase of the industry is passing, especially in the United 

 States, where wool alone at present prices would not support the industry even 

 under the most favorable conditions. In its present status, the sheep industry, 

 in the principal surplus producing regions of the United States, is largely on 

 a crop basis, which is to say, its surplus is marketed largely as wool clip and 

 lamb crop. As between these two items, the lamb crop has come to be the more 

 important source of income to the industry. 



THE SHEEP INDUSTRY IN MONTANA 



Montana is now in the second expansion period of her sheep industry. The 

 first expansion period, or pioneer phase saw a rapid and substantial develop- 

 ment of total numbers from less than half a million head in 1880 to more than 

 six million head between 1900 and 1906. Numbers were fairly well held until 

 1910 and the next decade witnessed a sharp, steady decline until a low point 

 of close to two million head was reached by 1920. From 1920 to 1926 numbers 

 steadily increased until 2,880,000 head were inventoried as of date January 1, 



1926. Heavy marketings during 1926 have reduced inventories on January 1, 



1927, to 2,736,000 head. However, the latest inventory indicates an increase 

 in both young ewes (2 to 5 years) and in yearling ewes, compared with last 

 year which means that 1926 marketings have not been at the expense of 

 breeding power. 



SHEEP NUMBERS IN UNITED STATES 



For the United States as a whole, trend of sheep numbers has been irregu- 

 larly downward from 1900 to 1920 with the low point of this swing reached 

 shortly after 1920 and some recovery made between then and 1925. During the 

 past three years numbers have steadily increased from 38,112,000 on January 1, 

 1925 to 39,864,000 a year later and 41,909,000 on January 1, 1927. In eleven 

 principal western states, including Montana, numbers have increased from 22,- 

 123,000 on January 1, 1925 to 23,577,000 on January 1, 1927. 



Note: See page 46, Montana Sheep Numbers, 1870 to 1927. 



