Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-08-09
agricultural,
Mixed Feed for Sheen.

In making up mixed feed for sheep, composed
Of the different products which are found most
available and economical, care should be taken to
keep the proportion OF nutrment 70 bulk such
that proper supply OF the former can be taken
lnto the stomach, without expressing that organ.
1t has been seen that l.3 per cent, of the live
weight per diem in hay, about meets the demands
OF the animal economyj and 1t probably also about
fills the stomach to comfortable state of iulness
II, then, a sheep weighing 80 pounds received
haf It's n1triment in hay and half in the better
kinds oil straw (Which contain half as much nutri-
ment as hay,) 1t would be required to consume
- pounds Of hay and pounds OF straw daily
-aa aggregate Of 4 10 pounds, which, think,
could not be daily taken into and digested in the
stomach Of sheep of that size. Therefore, to
put sheep on half straw feed it is necessary that
some other portion Of their feed be more concen-
uaLel, or more nutritious IN proportion 10 bulk
than hay--is Tor example, grain or roots-or else
they Will not get their proper sdpply oil nutrI-
ment.
My owa course when feeding straw mas been 10
give fed Of nay at morning and evening, (n-
tended TO average about pound per head each
tIme,) all the straw the sheep will eat and about
Il pound OF cut turnips each at no0n--tbe latter
beng d little increased il the hay and straw are
not Of prime quality. But ! do no. often give
over tso bushels, or 100 pounds of turnips to a
hundred. Hay nere doe, not average IS to !;
aud though regard feeding turnips as economical,
my maj IT oGlecl 10 growing and feeding them is
10 promote the health ana thtIft oil my breeding
e~es, aud the growth Of my amos
Some excellent sheep farmers, on grain and
clover seed irus lying few miles north Of me
where contiguous city market raises the aver
age prcs Of nay about 90 per cent. higher than
here--gse their store sheep no nay until March,
feeding them n lieu Of 1t, bright good straw ia
abundance, clover chah, snd daily feed Of In
dian corn ranging from one and hali TO two gills
per neal, according 10 their size and other cir
cumstances. Ine straw and grain chaf are gen.
orally led fresh from the Lhreshing floor half "a
dozen Tunes day, and The sheep are not required
10 eat II at all close After the first of March u
iull supply Of bright clover has is given and the
grain iced taken of. The sheep AS | have had
repeated occasion TO observe, winter well, AID the
breeding ewes raise good lambs.
Go not believe that breeding ewes or lambs
could properly be fed enough straw and turnps
particularly II the straw was dry and ripe-to
obtain the equivalent. Of @ iuil supply OF hay Ii
turnlps are led ia excess, they render the eyacua-
ton 900 thin and aclye ior severely cold weather.
But a pound mead given 10 straw fed sheep,
with little ilmunitiun Of the corn otherwise
requisite, would, think, constitute d better and
cheaper iced than entire corn and straw.
Inc comparative nutrment OF the different
kinds OF straw mas been gwen in the table of
Nuuiliys Equivalents. Oil aud barley straw Gu,
quite Zreen aud cured bright are highly rellshed
by sheep had Father have them particularly
II thrasned with a ia,l 81 t1at a few small green
kernels remain in the ends oil the heads,) than
nay ~ The situation IN which is frequently cured
Tor use. Wueat straw ranks next amoag the
common yareaes Of straw. Sheep do not relish
IL, aud viii not eat it very well II they get any
hay. But when confined to it and grain they
learn to ca II and thrive on it, They must not
however, Do Compelled TO eat as close as oat ant
barley slraw. Ripe rye straw, unless cut hne an,
mlxtd with meal, isa dry, harsh, Improbable, AM
wholly unaccep able food Tor sheep. All straw
are aten muon better by tuem when fresh thrash
ed and led frequently in small quanl les.
CUrnslaIks are contained IN nelther OF the pre-
ecu NJ tlD e, OF nutrlton. Wnen Cut aud curet
bright, before frost, no feed Is better reished b
sheep tnan The leaves aud some finer portions
the sta,ksj aud they thrive admilaoy on them.
Pea-haului, IT cut aud cured cen, is highl
valuable aud is highly reIlshed Dy sheep; Du
when not harvested untl dried up and dead, aC
cording To the more common mode, It is utlerl
worthless Tor them.
Ia SEASONS OF great scarcity Of hay and stray
sheep have been repeatedly aud successfully VIII
tereu by feeding them almost txclu,lyely On graft
Such nay famine occurred in the best shee
region OF Vermont, IN tue winter OF lS60-6
oceasoued by severe drouth the preceding SUI
MFR. Flock masters who were determined to kee
well al all hazards, led lhelr sheep pound e
quartz OF oats per head, with such quantities
h,y, straw, eIe, as they could obtain. la bettt
Indian corn growing regions pound OF corn
day is gwen under like circumstances,-R randall
Prdoiiea Shepherd