840 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



as many as 10 per cent are lost each year from the ravages of worthless 

 curs and dogs. In fact, they do much more damage than the coyotes 

 or wolves. In the northern and western counties the devastation of 

 the flock is due almost wholly to wild animals, such as wolves or coyotes. 

 The annual loss throughout the State by the ravages of dogs or wild 

 animals exceeds by far the loss from all other sources, and not a single 

 County where sheep husbandry is conducted is exempt from the ravages 

 of one or the other, notwithstanding the vigilance of flockmasters to 

 prevent it. From these sources alone sheep-owners report losses rang- 

 ing from 1 to 10 per cent, or an average of not less than 5 per cent. So, 

 therefore, the total average annual loss of sheep from all sources what- 

 soever does not exceed 7 per cent. 



Of the sheep brought into Nebraska from other States and Terri- 

 tories the bulk came from the South and West, and are mainly wethers 

 which go to the feeders, although the number of stock sheep brought in 

 is constantly increasing. The general belief among sheepmen is that 

 both the fleece and the constitution of the animal improve; yet, where 

 such is the case it is owing to the sheep receiving better attention and 

 the providing of a more abundant supply of feed. One thing is cer- 

 tain, that sheep brought in from any part of the United States are none 

 the worse for having beeu brought into Nebraska. The fleece of im- 

 proved Eastern sheep when brought into central or western Nebraska 

 becomes dryer and lighter, and there is less yolk or oil in it. But the 

 constitution, after the necessary period of acclimatization, appears to im- 

 prove, and the sheep becomes more vigorous and robust. The State is 

 so well adapted to sheep that no matter what breed or class of sheep is 

 brought here, they all do well and no bad results occur because of the 

 change. Sheep-owners have no hesitation in handling any class of 

 slieep when they have a suitable location and equipments. 



The sheep- breeders of the State generally pj?efer pure-bred rams, 

 which are used mainly in the order named: Merinos, Shropshires, 

 Cotswolds, Southdowns, and French Merinos, the first two named being 

 generally used. In the larger flocks in the western part of the State 

 quite a number of grade and <!ross-bred rams are used, and many of 

 the larger owners keep both the fine-wool and medium-wool rams, 

 breeding the latter with the fiock, except where the rams are kept up 

 and properly fed and cared for, then from 75 to 100 are given each 

 buck. The age of the rams used is two years and upward. Many sheep- 

 owners now realize that double the service is secured and much more 

 satisfactory results are obtained, as well as a greater per cent of lambs 

 where hand breeding is employed. It is an advantage always to have 

 them kept up and fed during the breeding season, but at the present 

 time this plan is not generally foUowed. The per cent of lambs raised 

 necessarily varies according to the size of the flocks and the methods 

 of breeding practiced. In the farmer flocks nearly every ewe breeds 

 and raises a lamb, whUe in the larger flocks probably 5 per cent of the 



