Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-11

MUTTON SHEEP CARDINAL POINTS IN
THEIR MANAGEMENT

count OF my management of sheep. My
experience at the commencement was any
thing but encouraging, from want of prac-
tical knowledge My first great difficulty
arose from the lessons had so often heard
repeated about the improperly of keeping
sheep, especially breeding ewes, too fat.
Now the result was, that in trying to avoid
this extreme, fell into the other, and found
to my cost, when my ewes commenced lamb
ing, that they were quite too poor conse-
quently there were many losses-the ewes
not having strength to produce their lambs
properly, or nourishment to support them.
maintain, that low condition, and the
necessary accompaniment--the want of
sufficient flow of milk, is the principal cause
of the abandonment on the part of the eve,
of her progeny-eXcept occasionally with
young ewes with their first lambs.
Finding that this system of low diet was
not very satisfactory, | have since tried the
other course, and find that sheep, like all
other animals, require generous feeding,
and will make ample return for it in the
shape of mutton, WOOL and last, though not
least, satisfaction and profit.
The three cardinal points in the success
full management of sheep, are proper shelter
judicious feeding and kind treatment For
shelter my arrangements are simple and
inexpensive, and as they answer good
purpose will give short description Of
them. They are rough sheds, enclosed on
three sides, and open to the south, with
yards attached enclosed by high picket
fences, to make them dog proof. At the
back of each shed board is hung on him
ges, which can be raised and lowered as
required for ventilation this board or shut
ter is four or five feet from the ground, so
that when open there is no draft upon the
sheep, but the current of air passes above
them keeping the pen from all unpleasant
effluva. These shutters are nearly always
kept open, except in stormy weather. when
they are closed, to prevent rain or snow
from blowing upon the sheep. Fresh air,
with protection from storms, is absolutely
necessary for the well-doing of sheep
The racks are so arranged that the hay is
thrown into them from the loft above which
is much better than carrying it among the
sheep it disturbs them less, and their
wool is kept cleaner The pens should at
all times be kept we'll Uttered by attending
to this, it will be found that sheep will
make large quantity of very excellent
manure, and at the same time be more com.
Portable and better for it.
IL HdfC tnC l"O liIItl JULIUS JuuUtOHS
feeding and kind heatnent-- properly carried
out requires strict personal attention on
the part Of the owner if left to the tender
mercies OF Patrick, something is very apt
to go wrong.
Sheep if kindly treated become very tame
and confding whenever see them timid
and wild on the approach of their keeper,
infer that their treatment is not as gentle
Slpnld hn Ac 10 tho aSacf ~
food to be given it is very difficult to state
50 much depends on circumstances of hay
they should have as much as they will eat
nearly clean, three times a day If toe
much is given, they will only pull it out OF
their racks and waste it. In clear cold
weather they will require more than in damp
mild weather.
My plan is to keep the ewes, lambs, and
yearlings, in separate lots | generally
have twenty-five breeding ewes they are
kept in a pen about thirty feet square, ra-
ther more than half covered by shedding,
the rest open yard, as above described =
This gives them plenty of room, but not too
much for heavy, long-wooled sheep.
few weeks before lambing, the ewes
should have some grain, about pint per
head-mOre or less, according to condition
of oats or yats and corn mixed As they
lamb, they should be separated from the
flock and their feed increased, and if there
are any roots on hand they would now come
IN very serviceaby; too much attention
cannot be given to seeing that they have
plenty of fresh water at all times salt
should also be constantly within their reach.
AT lambmg time ewes require a great
deal of attention, but to enter upon this
subject would require too much space for
this communication.
About the first of August the lambs are
weaned, to enable the ewes to recruit some
what before the buck is turned among them
which is done in the latter part ofkSeptem.
Der. By this means the lambs come about
the first of March, which prefer to having
them come later, always having found that
early lambs do better than late ones. The
ewes should be put upon poor pasture for
a few days after being separated from the
lambs, to check the flow of milk this pre-.
caution may prevent injury to their udders
The lambs, ON the contrary, should have
the best of pasture--a recently laid down
field with good deal of clover, | prefer
and as soon as the grass begins to fail in
the fall, give them, and my other sheer
as well, a little hay in the evening when
they are driven to their folds, which pre-
vents them from losing condition before
they are taken into winter quarters.
1t is very essential if good sheep are
desired that the lambs should be well cared
for the first winter this is the period that
to very great extent makes the sheep
and no after attention will compensate fol
neglect at this time. My lambs get a small
quantity of oats during the fall, merely to
get them accustomed to eating them the
quantity is gradually increased to about a
half pint each by the time the grass fails
after which they are fed pint each, of a
mixture of oats and corn---in the proportion
Of three parts of oats to one of corn--with
as much hay as they will consume; an oc
casonal feed of mangel wurtzcl is also Civ
Ell, which they should receive daily with
their grain, if | had them in sufficient guam
tity. am fully convinced that to produce
the best results in sheep husbandry, roots
are absolutely essential, and for this pur-
pose prefer mangel wurtzels or Swedish
turmps.
Lambs will make desidedly better growth.
and keep in healthier condition, if fed