Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-01-29
Protection to Sheep in Winter.

Protection TO Sheep in Winter.
II We were asked " What Is the creates,
defect in the sheep management in the North
west" we would answer, "Thc omission 10
provide comfortable shelter and barns"
This is not partial, bat a very general
fault. or defect. Scvcn.tenths Of the nock
Of the Northwest are fcd upon the ground
during the entire winter, M the open air,
and never saw an enclosed shed, or even a
roof over them. This is u glaring deiect--a
practice in which neither humanity nor the
aock.master's parse is consulted. Aud 80
far a, our observation has extended, It Is a
practice quite general over the Northern
and Middle States, although within the past
thrcc years great reform in this par,icu.
lar has been going on, which is alike cred
itablc to the lock.master aud agreeable To
the sheep.
Humanity, indeed. would alone dictate,
one would think, that dumb animals should
not suher from our neglect. In our unrest,
though. and N our haste and excitement to
get riches and power, we shut our ears and
eye, to that gentle spirit Of kindness and
bcncyolcncr which would seek 10 throw IL
care and protection around all those crca'
iurc-, especially allotted TO man Tor hI'
comfort aud support.
Bui aside from humane consideration
(Which We regard as raumount,) the pccu.
mary interest Of the lock.master or owner
demand, protection Tor his dock lrom storms
aud winters cold. The Mountain Shcp.
herds Manual (Scotehl thus speaks-or
thus ,p,ks years ago on this subject "Shcl-
ter i. the ir,t thing u b, attended u in
the management Of sheep. While every
good shepherd is decidedly hostile TO their
being couGucd, or TO their b,ing forced into
shelter, whether they wish it or not, 1t can
not b, too strongly recommended 10 all
sheep farmers 20 pat the means Of avoiding
the severity Of stormy weather within the
reach Of their l)eks at all times" Tbs i
old doctrine. Tho result of some recent cx.
pgrimeuts in the winter kycping Of sheep,
which have como unlcr our own observa-
ton and knowledge, - to prove that 1t Is
as profitable to house sheep" force them
into shcltcr''-as the writer above quoted
would have il. as it is To stable horses or
cattle. The idea that somo bold out, that
to house sheep aud keep them comfortable
is to make them tender, induce disease, is
about "a, reasonable as to suppose that man
dcscneratcs by having comfortable clothing
aud houses to dwell in.
/. Shelter ohsiates losses from disease and
death. "Withn the last ten years." says
Mr. Morrell, "my flock, like thousands Of
Others at the present time in this ani other
States, were denied the benefits Of shelter ,
and the loss, in proportion to the severity
. Of winters, varied from five TO ten per cent.
The diseases caused by th-r exposure were
scab. petrot, dy~ntcry, aud colds, which
caused an excessive discharge Of mucus lrom
the nostrls, while many died. from no other
cause apparently, than sheer poverty OF con-
dtion. Since, however, my sheep have
bsen protected. the deaths have not exceed
e,l Que aud a half per cent in regard TO num-
Los. and II comparative value were the
standard. it would not be considered Of any
moment. as the loss has been mostly among
sprinc lambs-so from had nursing, and old
ewes. which, from superiority OF fleece OF
carcass, were retained thus long, TO breed
from. II this is contrlsted with the per
ccntaso or loss before tho resort 90 protec-
ton, il will readily dispel the delusion that
shelter encryates the constitution OF sheep
or is in any wise an inducing cause OF dis
ease; for since protected, No epidemic has
prevailed among them, and disease OF any
kind is rare. indeed, and only occurring in
individual cases" In the case, or expert
mrnts alluded to above, where sheep have
been housed. the losses by disease or acci
dent have not been half Of one per cent
And such We arc we'll assured, will be th'
universal benefits Of the practice. Sheep
however, must have plenty Of pure air and
clean. well Uttered bed daily, in sucl
cases.
7 .. Shelter increases the weight Of fleece
and improve It's qualities. In ia,tenins nn'
imals, every farmer knows that mildnes'
and cquableness Of temperature is of para
mount Importance to the laying on Of flesh
and fat. The same rule holds good in th,
keeping Of all store animals, and in the pro
duction Of wool as we'll as flesh.
II the TODD which a sheep takes must all
be expended in the preservation OF the It's
sues II the body. aud in keeping up th'
natural, animal heat. none can bc expended
in the production Of wool; but IL the ami
NAL is kept quiet and warm-thus avoiding
the wasting OF the tissues by exercise. anc
the necessity Of using the food for promo
ting warmth, the latter will be appropria
ted in large ratio to the growth Of wool
The flesh socretions and the wool secretion