Show SHORTAGE OF SPRING LAMBS IN INTHE THE WEST WESTA A material shortage In spring iambs ambs is indicated in advices received ed d in Washington by the department department department depart depart- ment of agriculture from the west- west rn rn sheep country Figures are not available but trained observes say hat the total lamb Iamb production in Montana Wyoming Washington Oregon Idaho and Nevada is only 0 0 per cent of normal This the department says also means a smaller supply or wool Contracting of both wool and lambs las nas reached large dimensions during recent weeks Numerous large western operators are are reported to be scouring the west for new crop lambs and nd many sales at 9 to 10 I rents cents a pound are reported with the tatter latter price being generally refused 11 u Idaho Washington and Oregon The price last year was 5 to 7 cents Fleeces on sheep's backs are sell- sell ng nE as as' as high as 35 to 38 cents a Sound with some clips cUps including he the Jericho pool clip selling up to 40 0 cents Shortage of Ewes The situation Is attributed to a shortage of ewes the over-age over of nany ninny breeding flocks and losses of early arly spring lambs on account of cold weather and backward spring season A winter lamb and sheep market higher than the trade anticipated anticipated antic antic- a shortage In the visible supply supply sup- sup ply uly and the recent sharp upturn in wool values have created bullish sentiment in the markets Money Honey which was tight last fall falland and ind nd in the early winter now appears abundant and large speculators and western feeders are buying freely Creely This fact combined with the short crop leads many In ln the trade to believe believe be be- lieve that the coming summer and fall tall supply of both feeding and fat lambs at the large market centers will be far below normal Present conditions indicate that many lambs will be held In the west for fattening fattening fatten fatten- ing lug for next winters winter's market Contracts Already Made Some reports indicate that large western speculators and feeders have haTe already contracted approximately approximately half the lamb crop in Idaho Oregon and Washington According to the best information available ble the summer movement nt from these st states tes will be late in getting under way and will probably not reach sizable proportions before thelast the thelast last of July or early in August Ewes wintered poorly and because because because be be- cause of the backward spring w were ere re not only late getting on the range rang but started the grazing season in inDoor Door poor flesh with the result that February February February Feb Feb- lambs the crop of which was more nearly normal than that of later lambs had bad a poor start The April lamb crop is is very short abort according to all reports Many tried to lamb lamb- the April crop on the open range but ut cold weather caused heavy losses Breeding flocks are seriously over- over aged but there is an nn acute shortage of young stock and it is believed that a very Tery attractive market will be bo necessary to draw any large quantity of breeding flocks nocks to the shambles Young ewes are in strong demand all over the west and bids of 8 to 12 a head have brought out many It seems seems certain that very few tew western ewes will reach market centers during d ring the coming season o 0 |