Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 255, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1910 — A RARE SHEEP OPPORTUNITY [ARTICLE]

A RARE SHEEP OPPORTUNITY

Enormous Receipts at Market—Farmers and 3heep Feeders Can Btook Up at Bargain Prices. ~~ - CAUSES OF THE RUN. 200,000 sheep and lambs received in three days—such, in round numbers, is the record-breaking run thus far this week on the Chicago market! This enormous over-marketing of sheep is the result of temporary and peculiar causes, and offers a rare opportunity for farmers and sheep feeders to stock up at bargain prices. This great rush of sheep to market comes mainly from Montana and adjoining western range country, and cannot last more than two or three weeks longer. It is no evidence of over-production. Its principal causes are the recent drought, which so burned out the grass that there will be very little winter feed on the range, and which prevented the putting up of sufficient hay to carry any considerable number of sheep over winter, while last winter was a very severe one and hay was so closely fed that there is no old hay left over for the purpose. The consequence is that sheep owners are forced to market the bulk of their sheep this fall, or else lose them in the fierce storms of winter. The most serious cause of the present general liquidation, however, is the restriction of the range through 'Occupation and fencing by dry farmers, who are grain growers, and not live stock raisers. The tremendous rush of these settlers upon the range within the last three years, and especially within the last twelve months, Is hard for eastern people to realize. It is not alone the area actually enclosed by these settlers, but the breaking up thereby of vast regions of grazing lands into such small sections that they are no longer available to stockmen for grazing their flocks, which is one of the main reasons why the sheep supplies of the western range country are being more closely marketed this year than ever before In the history of the trade. This means an Inevitable shortage at market later on and next year, and with a constantly growing demand for both mutton and wool, it would seem that future good prices are assured. The western range country has heretofore been the chief source of sheep market supplies, but unless the farmers of the corn belt begin at once to raise many more sheep than they have ever , done before, there will be a great scarcity of both mutton and wool before long In this country. Moreover, there is a world-shortage of live stock of all kinds. All Europe is short of sheep, and even Australia’s supply is declining with rapidity. The same general causes that exist in tbjn country are operating in other countries also. Populations are growing rapidiy everywhere, while grazing areas are being reduced. As pasture land is turned to production of cereals, sheep raising declines. Thousands of American fanners can turn this situation to their benefit, through increase of both soil fertility and money profit, by beginning right now each to keep a small flock of sheep upon his farm. And by taking advantage of the present opportunity to buy healthy, thrifty, growing western range sheep at bargain prices upon the heavily supplied Chicago market, they can stock ,-up at minimum cost, whether they want foundation stock for breeding or the growing kind to fatten for market.