890 SHEEP INDUSTRY OF THE UNITED STATES 



nearly everywhere abundant, besides other herbage and browsing, such 

 as is common to the forest and timber lands of the State. The culti- 

 vated grasses, which afford considerable pastures, consist of blue grass, 

 timothy, Bermuda grass, red and Japan clover. The supply of water 

 is everywhere abundant and is furnished by the natural fountains, 

 creeks, rivers, and ponds. The standing water, however, is not good 

 during the months of July and August 5 otherwise the water supply is 

 quite suitable for stock. 



The annual loss of sheep from wild animals, dogs, and exposure is 

 quite large, considering the small size of the flocks. It comes from the 

 fact that the sheep are allowed to shift for themselves and do not re- 

 ceive the care and attention necessary for proper protection ; and with 

 this in view it is a matter of some surprise that the average loss is not 

 greater. The loss from exposure is remarkably Mght, very few sheep- 

 owners reporting any loss from this source; the heaviest occurring 

 among the flocks of sheep which are held in the lowlands; outside of 

 these localities 2 or 3 per cent is the average annual loss. The heav- 

 iest loss, which is reported everywhere, is that resulting from the rav- 

 ages of dogs. The reports of such losses vary from 5 to 25 per cent; 

 the annual loss from dogs being not much less than 10 per cent of all 

 the flocks of the State. The loss of sheep from wild animals is not 

 widespread; the losses in counties where depredations occur average 

 from 2 to 5 per cent. A careful, conservative estimate shows that 10 

 per cent of the flocks of the State could be saved to the owners with 

 adequate protection from the ravages of dogs and wild animals. Tliat 

 sheep-raising has continued to the extent it has, in view of this annual 

 loss and other adverse circumstances, is certainly strong evidence of 

 the adaptability of the State to the sheep industry. 



Very few sheep have been brought into this State for many years. 

 The few introduced by the more prosperous flockmasters for the pur- 

 pose of improving their sheep have been Merinos and Shropshires. 



It appears from the best information obtainable that sheep which 

 have been brought to the State from other States, north, east, or west, 

 acclimate very readily and show an improvement in the wool fiber, 

 length of staple, and increase in weight of fleece; and in some cases the 

 constitution of the animal was strengthened, especially those brought 

 from the east. 



Very little attention is paid to the breeding ewes. A single buck is 

 all tliat is used in the average flock, and he remains with it the year 

 round, and generaUy continues in service until death releases him. In 

 most flocks the buck is of the common or native sheep, and in excep- 

 tional cases he may be a Merino, Southdown, Shropshire, or Cotswold. 

 However, most of the ewes breed during August and September, and 

 sometimes as late as November; and the lambing season generally 

 covers a period of from one to three months. The number of lambs 

 raised is variously reported from 50 to 90 per cent, with an average of, 



