i 
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Joint Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, WM. A. 
TAYLOR, Chief, and the Bureau of Animal Industry 
A. D. MELVIN, Chief 
Washington, D. C. Vv _ August 4, 1917 
THE SHEEP INDUSTRY ON THE MINIDOKA RECLA- 
MATION PROJECT.’ 
By E. F. Rinewart, Agriculturist, Demonstrations on Reclamation Projects, 
Bureau of Plant Industry. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
Importance of sheep production on Govern- Methods of sheep management—Continued. 
ment reclamation projects...............-- 1 HDS eID PDT Ts aS ERA AM sek AOL DE a oalat nt 12 
Agricultural conditions on the Minidoka Dockingvand::castra tim oye pe seas eee as 13 
ORO WOE SS Beas eo cob oe CES CO DAE eee eee 2 NYS pe Wc ERS Saar Se Os A ee AERO 14 
History and present status of the sheep indus- ; ieedsjandveeding. oat sate aN aeee 15 
try on the Minidoka project..............- 4 Buildings andsequipment. 222: ..j452.-22 18 
Relationship of farm sheep production to Diseases, pests, and minor ailments... - 20 
the range sheep industry.....-.......-. 4 SSA TAA eee sh eee, eel es A Rh ad 23 
Sheep population of the Minidoka project 5 Marke timere it < 224 7 baer roc nee ase ey 24 
Agricultural diversity of farms producing Future development of the industry......... 25 
SUOYE OSA i ek cs Ais ie gs 6 Conservative practicesia ss 22 e222 eee 26 
Methods of sheep management .............. 6 Relationship of sheep production to other 
Relationship of sheep production to other TCS ERLESE Oi 5 Sieve ale AU a ee NUN i ae 26 
industries on the farm................- 6 Community cooperation ae sees ees 27 
Houndationistock 22. .2s2 52-282. 32-32. a Sltabilizins the industry... ssa. sses4- 25 27 
Breeding practicess.. 2.62. 8. 4).5-22 242. 11 
IMPORTANCE OF SHEEP PRODUCTION ON GOVERNMENT 
RECLAMATION PROJECTS. 
Two of the leading factors influencing the development of agri- 
culture on the Government reclamation projects are the isolated 
location of these irrigated regions and the local conditions neces- 
sitating or favoring the production of forage and grain crops, which 
ordinarily will not bear the cost of transportation to the large con- 
suming centers. It follows that the development of these irrigated 
lands requires the establishment of live-stock industries, in which 
1 This bulletin has been prepared under the direction of Mr. F. D. Farrell, Agriculturist in Charge of 
the Office of Demonstrations on Reclamation Projects of the Bureau of Plant Industry, asa part of the work 
of that office in the development of agricultural industries on the Governmentreclamation projects. That 
part of this work which relates to live-stock production is conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of 
Animal Industry. The suggestions made in this bulletin, while based primarily on the results of observa- 
tions on the Minidoka Reclamation Project, are applicable to several otherirrigation projects in the north- 
western United States having similar climatic and agricultural conditions. 
104987°—Bull. 573—17——1 
