Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 226, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1911 — PROFIT IN SHEEP [ARTICLE]

PROFIT IN SHEEP

Feeder Sheep and Lambs Are Now Cheap. GOOD MONEY IN PROSPECT A Self-Evident Proposition. >. ■ - ■ *,■ y- “ Good growing stock of any kind that Is selling below the cost of production is always a safe investment if the purchaser is prepared to take good care of it *y,). 77; ""'7 He who buys and develops such stock la almost certain to make a goqd profit in doing bo, because profiudtion will not long continue at a loss, while consumption of staples must go on steadily, - - -A - ’ Not many others are buying such stock, or else it would not be selling so cheaply, and it follows logically and consistently that when It has been grown and finished for market, there will then be a comparative scarcity of such finished stock and such good prices will be realized for it that a handsome profit will result from the deal. This reasoning is self-evident, and applies with especial emphasis to th? present situation in feeder sheep and lambs. ' • '*; 7 Ci- .’- '7* ■v * Last- year’s conditions are now reversed. Then nearly everybody was crazy to feed- sheep and lambs, and an immense number were sold and shipped to the country at about the highest prices on record. This together with an enormous corn crop of high feeding value, a world of perfectly cured roughage and a splendid winter feeding season were factors that combined to produce a heavy supply of fat sheep and lambs, for market during the early part of this year, while retailers of meats held up prices to consumers, so that consumption was limited, with the natural and logical result of low prices and feeders’ losses in most instances. In consequence of last year’s unprofitable experience and present scarcity of grass and hay, most farmers and many professional feeders of sheep and lambs are now avoiding the market, and very few are being shipped to the country, while prices are the lowest since 19Q4. In fact, feeder sheep and lambs are selling on the market today for less than the cost of production. These facts mean that early next year there will be a scarcity of fat sheep and lambs at market, and comparatively high prices will prevail. Those who have the nerve to go contrary to the crowd and invest In good, thin but thrifty feeder sheep and lambß at the present low price, will have no cause to regret their enterprising independence when they come to market thefh in finished condition. The concensus of opinion of the best minds in the trade is that since both prices for feeding stock and prospects for fat stock are much better than they were last year, therefore the opportunities for profit are correspondingly better. In fact, the whole situation is the reverse of last year. Nbw is the time to buy, because range conditions are such that most of the sheep and lambs will come to market from the range regions ready for slaughter, while fewer of the feeder classes will be marketed during the remainder of this year, and the supply will not equal the probable Fall'demand, so that prices are likely to be materially higher-in October and November. ' " u '