806 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



able in the iinprovemeut, both in the size of carcass and length and 

 fineness of staple. The percentage of ewes that fail to breed is not 

 very great, not exceeding 10 per cent. 



Owners run their sheep in flocks of 2,000 to 2,500 head each, placed 

 in charge of a competent man, who is paid from |35 to $45 per month, 

 including board. A company outfit is provided, consisting of team and 

 wagon, tent, feed, provisions, etc. It takes one man to look after the 

 outfit, do the cooking, and look after changing location occasionally. 

 Often boys are employed as herders. A company outfit goes with from 

 one to three flocks. It is essential to the success of the flock to have 

 a good, careful, steady man in charge, especially during lambing season, 

 which is perhaps the most critical period of the year. Should the lamb- 

 ing season be cold or stormy the loss is often over 50 per cent. The 

 lambing season is the most important part of the year to the flock- 

 master, and is the time when extra watchfalness and vigilance are 

 necessary if a large percentage of the lambs be saved. Sheep are lia- 

 ble to scatter and get lost; the ewe may leave her lamb, or wild ani- 

 mals may take it. Extra help is often provided during this season by 

 the successful and humane owner; others separate the breeding ewes 

 from the rest of the flock, and range them where some protection is 

 afforded and where they may be kept quiet, with plenty of feed and water. 

 After the lamb gets dry and nurses a few times it is able to get along 

 very well. There is not one sheep-owner in a hundred in this Terri- 

 tory who has shelter for his flocks more than the natural protection 

 afforded by rocks, valleys, canyons, bushes, and trees. 



There are not many flocks owned in Utah of less size than 1,000 head, 

 and from this they run up to 15,000, and some to 25,000 head; but the 

 average size of flocks owned by one person or firm will run from 3,500 

 to 4,500. A person who does not own at least 1,000 head or more is 

 certainly not in the business to any extent, as he can not afford tie ex- 

 pense of an outfit for a small flock. There are a number of persons in 

 the business who began as herders, saved their wages, invested in 

 sheep, and after a time became flockmasters. 



If a flockmaster saves from G5 to 75 per cent of his lambs it is about 

 all that he expects. Much depends upon the method pursued, the con- 

 dition of the season, and range occupied. Under some conditions 85 

 to 90 per cent of the lambs are saved, but these are exceptions. 



Sheep, if properly cared for, are generally very healthy and quite free 

 from diseases. Watchful care is necessary to prevent the scab from 

 getting started, but by the timely use of the best sheep dips this dis- 

 ease can be managed. The big-head is about the greatest obstacle to 

 contend against, as there seems to have been no effective remedy dis- 

 covered for it. The loss by wild animals and dogs is not as great as 

 from exposure, hard winters, or lack of feed. 



The future outlook for the industry is good, since there is a growing 

 demand for mutton, and a market opened up by feeders from Nebraska 



