The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-12-04

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The expcdiency Of feeding grain to etore-
sheep in winter depends much upon circum-
stances. II in climate where they can OBJ
tain a proper supply Of grass or other green
esculents, it would, Of course, be unnecessa-
ry. Neither Is It matter Of aecessity where
the ground is frozen or covered with snow for
weeks or months, provided the sheep be sup
piled beautifully with good dry fodder Near
markets where the coarse grains iind a good
and ready sale, it is not usual in the North,
to feed grain. Remote from markets, it is
generally fed by the holders oflarge docks.---
Oats are commonly preferred, and they are
fed at the rate of a gill head per day.
Some feed half the same amount Of yellow
corn. Fewer sheep-particularly lambs, year
lings, and cronee-get thin and dpcrish, where
they receive daily feed Of grain; they con-
sumo less hay; and their fleeces are increased
in weight. On tho whole, therefore, it is
considered good economy. Where no grain
is fed, three daily feeds Of hay are given. 1t
is common and very good practic, to feed
grecnish cqre5ats in the ii,gL9ls, atpoon, aud
give but two feeds Of hay--one at, morning
and at night. A few feed grcenish cut peas
in the same way. In warm, thawing wealth
or when sheep get to the ground, and refuse
dry hay, q little grain assists materially in
keeping up their strength and condition
This may furnish useful hint Cor many parts
of the South. When the feed is shortest in
winter, in the South, there are many local-
ties where sheep would get enough grass to
take off their appetite for dry hay, but not
quite enough to keep them in prime condi-
tion. A moderate daily feed of oats or peas
placed in the depository racks, would keep
them strong, in good plight for the lambing
season, and increase their weight Of wool.
Few Northern farmers feed Indian corn to
store-shcep. It's considered "too holland
stimulating" and sheep are thought to be
more liable to become "cloyed" on it than
on oats, peas, &c. have never fed it to
sheep sufficiently to speak adviscdly on this
point. A ncighboring flock master whose ad-
mirable arrangements for keeping sheep are
only equalcd by his usual success, lost most
of large flock Of lambs few winters since.
They received all they would cat Of the best
hay, aud, as tho owner supposed, half gill
Of corn u head per day. They were in fuc
order in the beginning and for some time in
to the winter. During thaw, when they
got a little of from their feed, and looked
"hollow," the shepherd, without the knowl-
edge Of the owner, increased the feed Of corn.
This caused them to eat less hay, and the
shepherd not only continued but increased the
allowance of corn as their appetite for hay dim
nished. Ina short time they ate scarcely any
hay, and soon after began to eat their corn
very irregularly. Their stomachs were now
so completely dcrangcd, that they would not
eat anything. in quantities sufficient for their
subsistence, and they pcrishcd rapidly and
piserably.. The same consequences might
doubtless have ensucd from feeding other
grains, in the same improper manner. But
| am inclined to think that the evil would
have been less rapid and rcmediess with some
other grains, do not consider yellow corn
very safe feed, AZ least for lambs and year
lings' From tho obviously different charac-
ter of the larger Southern varieties, pre-
sumo they would be less, and very probably
not at all Objectionable for sheep feed. Half
a gill Of yellow corn, or gill Of oats per head
is a sufficient daily allowance of grain
While there can be nothing moro absurd than
the German starving system to increase the
6nencss of the wool, excessive fatness is not
to be aimed at, especially in breeding ewes.
Store sheep should be kept in good, fair,
plump condition. Lambs and yearlings may
be as fat as they will become on proper feed
ing.
1t will not do to suffer sheep to get thin in
the winter, with the idea that their condition
can at any time be readily raised by better
feed, rs with the horse or OK. 1t is always
difficult, and unless properly managed, ex-
pcnsive and hazardous, to attempt to raise
the condition of poor flock in the winter
especially if they have reached that point
where they manifest weakness. If the feed
ing Of liberal allowance Of grain be sudden
ly commenced, fatal diarrhcea will frequently
supcvcne. All extra feeding, therefore,
must be began very gradually, and it does
not seem, many ease, to produce proportion
able results
have seen It stated that sheep will eat
cotton-seed and thrive on it, II this be true,
this must, Of course, be far more renumcra-
ting application Of that product than as a
mere manure 10 soils.
IRandall's Sheer Husbandry.