Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-01-12
AGRICULTURAL.
WINTER MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP


WINTER nANA"EMENf OF SHEEP
Much of the success Of the wool-grower de
ponds upon the winter management ofhs flock
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wholly arrested during the winter season, the
fodder given them being only sufficient to sus-
tain the vital functions. Under such circum-
stances the food consumed by them is very near
ly lost. The owner has received no return in
the increase ofwool nor in bodily growth and
he will suffer further from the large per cent.
of actual deaths before the time Of shearing.
With such course of management the profits
of wool-growing will necessarily be small. II
neither self-inerest, nor the feelings Of human
iiy will induce the farmer TO provide properly
for his dependent flock he will lind it for his
advantage TO keep some other domestic animal,
and know of nothing more suitable for such
men than the hardy goat. While protest a
gainst the starving system, it would hardly be
necessary to caution farmers agalnst the oppos-
lite extreme, too high feeding, which Is also
detrimental to the health and long life of the
animal. While preparing sheep for the butch
er, high feeding Is necessary and proper, but
Tor store sheep and breeding ewes an ovef "a
mount oil lat, produced by high keeping, is de-
cldedly Injurious; and aside from the attending
expense to produce this state OF things, 1t has a
tendency to shorten the lives of the sheep, and
'enfeeble the offspring. The forcing system OF
feeding brings animals to maturity early, but is
productive Of premature death.
The proper and the most profitable mode Of
feeding, for breeding and store sheep, is that
which will develop in them the higesi degree OF
bodily vigor. Sheep fed in this manner would
endure the fatigue ola long journey, while those
high fed would fail from the excess of fat, and
the scantily fed from muscular debility. Every
wool-grower Will find 1t for his interest TO pro-
vide warm capaclous and well ventilated sheds
for his iocEs, with convenient access to pure
water The feeding racks should be made with
good tight bottoms, in order that the chafl and
seed, the most valuable part of the hay may not
be lost. such racks will also answer for iced
ing out roots and grain, and will avoid the ne
cessl'y oil having an extra lot ofiroughs for tina,
purpose.
The different ages and class of sheep should
be properly assorted. This classification, how
ever, must be left to the judgement of the breed
er. The size of his flock and his conyenences
for keeping will determine the extent of the
classification. twill be necessary, in all Hocks
of considerable size, 10 place the strong and fee
BILE in seperaie focks The breeding ewes
should constitute another division, and so on
themselves them .l' 's'''' pug '''1''' aud age ''