WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 843 



The wool product of Nebraska includes nearly every sort of wool 

 from fine to coarse, although the bulk is fine and medium, and the av- 

 erage net price realized by the growers of the State is from 13 to 18 

 cents, and the gross price received is from 3 to 4 cents more per pound. 

 Heavy fine wool brings less, and fine medium wool more, however, than 

 the general average given. 



The average weight of fleece is much greater than is supposed. The 

 lowest average of 5 pounds was reported in the western border counties 

 where light medium wool is mainly produced, while in good agricultural 

 counties, where the bulk was iine and medium wool, the average weight 

 of fleece was put at 9, 12, and 15 pounds. One flock of 3,500 fat weth- 

 ers from Pierce County, which was sheared before shipment, made an 

 average of 15 pounds. The average Nebraslta fleece may safely be 

 placed at 7^ pounds. 



The flockmasters of Nebraska generally aim to dispose of a certain 

 number of sheep each year, ranging in amount from one-fifth to one- 

 half of the flock, either as stockers or muttons, but usually the latter, 

 and then only as many as will represent the annual increase. The 

 aim is to keep a number equal to the original fiocks. Stockers are 

 ordinarily sold in the fall at about $2.50 per head. The wethers are 

 sold to feeders, if not fed by the owner, and are usually sold at the 

 market price, whicli has ranged from 4 to 6 cents per pound. When but 

 a few muttons are sold they go to the local butcher, at the highest mar- 

 ket price. The larger offerings in car lots are shipped to Omaha, Chi- 

 cago, and occasionally to Kansas City, after January 1. Where car lots 

 of stockers are sent to Omaha for sale they are very apt to be sent in 

 any time after shearing, or when the grazing season is nearly over. 



The average weight of mature wethers depends upon whether they 

 are Merino grades or of the regular mutton breeds. The fine-wool sheep 

 range in weight from 90 to l-'o pounds, or an average of 100 pounds. 

 The mutton breeds, of course, weigh more. Spring lambs when sold 

 weigh from 40 to 80 pounds gross. 



In handling sheep, the average cost per sheep per year — all expenses 

 included — depends on whether the flockmaster is in the business exclu- 

 sively or whether it is a part of mixed husbandry of the general farmer. 

 The size of the flock also enters into the consideration. The cost of main- 

 taining and handling sheep among the farmer flocks in the agricultural 

 districts,where shelter and feed are provided, is variously estimated at 

 from $1 to $1.25 per head, while further west, in the range country, 

 where little feed other than prairie hay is used, the cost is estimated 

 at from 50 to 60 cents, so that a conservative estimate of the average 

 cost under the two i^re vailing methods can be placed at $1 and 50 

 cents, respectively. It is safe to assume that the fleece alone will more 

 than defray all expenses of handMng the sheep, no matter what breed 

 or grade is considered, or in what part of the State the sheep are raised. 

 The farmers do not seem to give the sheep any credit for the enriching 



