Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/88

SHEEP. over night. The more suhstantial feeding cor- rals are located near the ranch house. They are usually connected with open sheds in which the sheep may seek protection against snow and rain. In the spring after lambing time the slieep are sheared, either by hand or with machine, and usually dipped as a precaution against ticks and disease, before they are taken out upon the sum- mer range. In the 'estern States shearing is carried on by shearers who begin in early spring in Texas and Arizona, where two annual shear- ings are made. As the season advances they travel northward to ilontana, where the work ends in early July. They become so expert, and shear with such rapidity, that an average of from 90 to 120 sheep a day is usual. The maximum record is about 250 sheep in a day. Since about 1895 machine shearing has pro- gressed rapidly, because more wool, an evener fleece, and less injury to the sheep's skin are secured. The motive power is usually a gasoline engine, and shearing plants are constructed which contain from 10 to 40 clippers. No sort- ing of the wool is done on the ranch, except that the wool of black sheep is sacked separately, since it brings a higher price. The cost of managing sheep under range con- ditions necessarily varies within rather wide limits. If the sheep-raiser makes use of the public lands without paying rental and taxes, and does not practice winter feeding, the busi- ness may be conducted at a cost of about 25 cents per head per year. On the other hand, sheep- raisers who maintain extensive plants, feed in winter, and rent or own much of their grazing land have found that the cost varies from 75 cents to .$1.25 per head. The income under range conditions varies according to the locality and the skill and intelligence of the sheep-owner. In localities where the wool is comparatively free from sand, the income from the fleece in 1903 was from $1 to .$1.50 per sheep. The Iambs may be sold in the fall at .$2 to .$3 a head, depending upon their condition ; and by feeding for a short time additional profit may be obtained. Some of the best sheep managers make a profit of $1.50 per head, but such high returns are above the average and cannot be realized every year. Althoiigh sheep are well adapted to scanty vegetation and are capable of giving good re- turns on the semi-arid lands, they also respond to liberal feeding and can be made to return good profits under farming conditions. The high-priced agricultural lands of Great Britain maintain an average of 680 sheep per tliousand acres; those of Scotland, in 1893, as high as 1380 sheep per thousand acres of agricultural land. In the leading agricultural States of the United States the number does not exceed 25 sheep per thousand acres. In the farming States, where mutton is the primary consideration and wool incidental, sheep-raising will usually return a satisfactorv profit independent of the price of wool, as it has been demonstrated that the cost of ])roducing a pound of mutton from good mut- ton sheep does not exceed that of producing a pound of beef. Practical feeders hare found that surplus grain may be fed with profit, and the number of sheep in the grain-producing States seems to be increasing. Corn (see Maize) is one of the cheapest grain rations for lambs. It is often fed in a mixture with oats or peas, and, for fattening, a little oil cake 66 SHEEP-DOG. added. Various green crops, especially rape (q.v.), are grown for slieep pasture, the sheep bciug hurdled upon the fields and a rotation of green crops provideil. Hoots are extensively used, especially in England and parts of the United States where corn cannot be grown. Corn silage is equal in feeding value to roots, and is much cheaper. See Silage. BiBLiOGKAPny. Armatage, The Slieep, Its Varieties and Mamigement in Ucalth and Dis- ease (London, 1893) ; Coleman, ('utile. Sheep, and Pigs of Great Britain (London, 1887); Craig, Sheep Feeding. Farmers' Bulletin No. 49 (Washington, 1897) ; Curtiss, Haising Sheep for Mutton, Farmers' Bulletin No. 90 (Washington, 1899) ; Curtis. Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and Sirine (New York, 1893) ; Dodge, Sheep and Wool, Department of Agriculture, Report 66 (Wash- ington, 1900) ; Gibson, History and Present State of the Sheep-Breeding Industry in the Argentine Republic (Buenos Ayres, 1893) : May, Das Sehaf (Breslau, 1868); Jlelvor, History and Develop- ment of Sheep Fanning from Antiquity to Mod- ern Times (S.vdney, 1893) : Mentzel, Sehaf fzueht (Berlin, 1892) ; Randall. Shrep Husbandry tiith an. Account of the Different Breeds (New York, 1860); Rushworth, The Sheep (Buft'alo, 1899); Salmon, Carman, Heath, and Minto, Special lie- port on the History and Present Condition of the Sheep Industry of the United States (Washing- ton, 1892) ; Sanson, Les moutons, histoire natu- relle et zootechnie (Paris. 1885) ; Spooner, Bis- tort/, Structure. Economy, and Diseases of the Sheep (London. 1888); Stewart, The Domestic Sheep, Its Culture and. fleneral Management (Chicago, 1898) : Wilcox, Sheep I'anchi)ig in the Western States, in Annual Report Bureau of Ani- mal Industry (Washington, 1903) ; Wrightson, Sheep, Breeds and Management (London, 1895) ; Youatt, Sheep, Their Breeds, Management, and Diseases (London, 1837). SHEEP-BOT. See BoT, Bot-Fly. SHEEP-DOG, or COLLIE. Any of several kinds of dogs used to guard and control flocks of sheep or cattle. This kind of dog, which Buffon regarded as the most ancient breed of domestic dog, has existed in snbstantiall.v its present large, hardy, long-haired form, characterized by a high degree of intelligence, since prehistoric times, and Buffon's claim may verv well be true. The English-speaking world at the present is mainly interested in six varieties of sheep-dogs. The Scotch Collies. The rough-haired va- riety of the Scotch collies is the traditional and typical sheep-dog of the world. He stands from 22 to 24 inches high at the shoulder, has a skull quite flat, with a fine tapering muzzle, and brains that often act with better judgment than do those of his human master on the matters within the dog's range. The sheep become perfectly ac- quainted with their dog and evidentlv regard it as a friend. It knows the sheep of the flock it is required to attend, and even in a crowded market adroitly separates them from others. Its re- membrance of places is obviously very accurate. The standard qualities called for are a heavy coat, except on the head and legs, the outer coat harsh to the touch, the imder coat soft, furry, and so close that it is difficult on parting it to see the skin ; mane and frill round the neck very abundant: fore legs slightlv fentbered ; bind legs below the hocks smooth, with a profusion of hair