CHAPTER IX 
WOOL AND MUTTON PRODUCERS OF THE 
WEST 
THE sheep of the West, because of geographical and 
climatic conditions, are divided into two great classes: 
range sheep and farm sheep. Farm sheep in the West 
are handled in a manner similar to that followed in the 
eastern states, in England and in Europe, making, of 
course, necessary allowance for differences in feed, climate, 
and peculiarities of the people. Nothing similar to the 
western range sheep industry is to be found elsewhere 
in America or Europe. It resembles more closely the 
sheep business of Australia and Argentina, but even there 
the resemblance is largely confined to the immense size 
of the flocks and the preponderance of Merino blood. 
RANGE SHEEP 
The range sheep industry resolves itself into three 
phases: the raising of range sheep for wool and mutton; 
the raising of pure-bred sheep on the range; and the 
fattening of range lambs in the winter time. 
The essential features of raising of sheep for wool and 
mutton on the ranges are as follows: extensive use is made 
of rough range land not suitable for cultivation, such 
range usually being public domain, either within or 
without Forest Reserve; the sheep are handled on a 
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