Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-12-04
VOL. XII, NO. 3. --WHCLE NO. 2O42.
SHELTER FOR SHEEP

Every one has, perhaps, heard of the man whose
roof remained unrepaired, to the perpetual detri-
ment of all dry articles and sound lungs within
doorsbecause, when it rained, he could not repair
it, and when the weather was fair, he did not need
the repair. For q similar reason, many hocks of
sheep pass year after year unprotected, because
shelters are not needed in the summer, and cannot
be made in the depth of winter. To induce own
ers OF sheep to adopt an improvement, and provide,
in time suitable shelter for their focks, we wish to
state few facts in the case.
Lewis A. Morre of Tompkins county, New
York. before he had provided shelter for his flock
Of Saxon sheep, 1920 in number,) lost from 20 to
100 during winter and once lost $50. For the four
successive years after protection 1.-THE average num-
Der wintered being 1901 the average yearly loss
amounted to only 81 being less than | "a per ct.
j. W. Childers, of the English Agricultural So
ciety brought his sheep to shelter about Christmas
and found that they did not eat so much as when
exposed, by the proportion of five to three. When
in the field his flock required fifty baskets full Of
turnps day; but when sheltered, they needed
only thirty day. Yet such great progress" said
| he "dld they make, that you thought they had
been eating fifty baskets day, when shut up ant
only thirty when in the field" In another expert
nent, which was accompanied by accurate weigh
ing and measuring, where turnips and oil-cake were
given as food, the quantity of turnips diminished
IN few weeks nearly one quarter, and the o-cakt
diminished about third; while the increase O.
weight resulting from shelter was more than one
third. The editor Of the English Agricultural Ga
zette inferred from actual experiments, performed
by himself, that twice as many sheep might be KEEP
in fattlng condition on the same quantity of foot
under perfect shelter, as under entire exposure |
these results were obtained in the mild climate O
England, what may not be expected uNour sever
winters
L. A.. Morell is satisfied that at least one ton o
hay to the hundred sheep : saved by protection
every winter "Of oats, which fed literally be
fore protection, the amount saved is equivalent t.
800 bushels each year, and yet my sheep have beer
in finer order than when they were grained show
ing, Notwithstanding the virtue of grain, that Their,
is more virtue in warm shelter" The same sue
cessful manager has also found that the aggregate
increase in four clips of wool from his flock result
ing from the protection amounted to 1850 pounds
and that the increased number Of lambs exceeded
one hundred year.
In view OF these facts, we wish every farmer t.
make a calculation of the whole amount of foo
thus saved every winter, the increase in the weigh
of his sheep, the sowing of life the increase of WOO
and the increase in the number Of his flock
fit will cost one dollar per head to winter shee
by the ordinary way, then TO winter 1000 woul
cost $1,000.
One-ihird of this saved would be 1913
The difference IN loss by wintering, accord
ing to l.. A. Morrel, would be about fifty
Sheep which at So each, would amount to 10
Putting the increased value of the sheep by
increase of weight, at one-tenth the value
of the flock, 20
Increase in the fleeces, say 100 lbs 6
Increase in lambs, say GO, 5
s74
equal to the total saving every year, by the use
suitable shelter, at very moderate estimate an
which WOuld abundantlv nav for suitabp sheds