The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-10-25
winterins sheep.

Ihe xturdtNeao YORKER, In answer
to some queries of subscriber, pub
lishessthe following article upon the
care of sheep in winter
The leading want in the winter care
Of sheep is shelter. Judging from wha,
we have often witnessed, too many
sheep-breeders have imbibed the idea,
that nature, in coating the animal with
good fleece of wool, has taken this
care entirely off his hands. Here a
great error is committed, for none 9TH
er Of our domestic animals are so lily
constituted to withstand the rigors of a
severe climate. Long domestication
has almost entirely changed its nature,
and if it was ever able to endure
inclemencies of weather, the artificial
being with which it is now endowed is
not calculated to bear up the animal
amid the rains and SHOWS of our north
srn winters. This has been demon
strated time and again, and yet each
winter will renew the costly lessons,
only to be forgotten amid the genial
smiles and bland breezes of our sum-
mer months. Inattention to this ne
cessity IS gigantic evil, and until a
thorough reformation is completed, ILL.,
success will inevitably attend the eff
forts of such breeders as expose their
Aooks to extreme changes of tempera-
ture.
AS we have before said, if no higher
motive than that of economy urges the
sheppard to the performances of his du-
ties in this respect, the arguments
educed are substantial, for the follow
ing reasons First, it removes disease
and promotes the general health of the
flock. Second, it will increase the
quantity, and improve Inequality of the
fleece. Third, the beneficial results
arising therefrom will be very precep-
tible at the time of yeaning. Fourth,
Warm and comfortable quarters are
equivalent to a certain amount of food.
During cold weather a considerable
portion of the food consumed is taken
mp by the animal economy, used for the
purpose of supplying bodily heat, and
the expenditure in this direction is in
exact ratio to the exposure which stock
are compelled to undergo. Those prop
ositions are founded upon the basis
that everything furnished for the CON-
fort of the animal must rebound to the
healthiness of the system and conse-
quently, to its productiveness and per-
lection.
While We are urging the demands of
the sheep for shelter, this need must
not be reduced to a system of confne-
naent, else we fly from one defect in
their management into another They
must have sufficient latitude for
exercise, and be judges of their own
desires when they would seek the pro-
lection of roof
In bringing up the focks to their
winter quarters they cannot be herded
together Unfortunately and, at the
same time, attain their highest good.
While we cannot lay down any rules
for guidance, a few general principles
may be stated, which, with tSe watch
fulness of the fiock-master, and the ju-
dicious exercise of his judgement, may
prove all that is necessary. The size
of the flock, and the conveniences at
hand win have their controlling in
fuences, bat the strong and the weak
should be separated,-another division
will contain the breeding ewes, third,
she lambs, and SO on, keeping, if pos
sible, each class and age by them
selves.
The next topic to be considered is
feeding. Animals desire their food as
regularly and as plentifully as man, yet
this is feature seldom recognized by
"creation's lord" In many cases, feast
and famine bear alternate sway, and a
flock thus kept-although the amount
fed out during the season may be great
err than in other instances where a sys.
rematic course is pursued-will never
thrive. In the choice of fodder much
discrimination may be used, and prob
ably, we cannot do our readers-not
alone sheep-breeders, but stock grow
ers, generally,-better service than to
give the result of series of expert
ments conducted by Veit, Professor of
Agriculture in the Royal Institution of
Bavaria. He remarks:
"The straw of the usual legunainous
fruits, and especially of lentils, vetches,
and peas, is more nutritious than the
straw of seed clover. The greener the
tips are, the less it is lodged, and bet
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