Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-09-19
AGRICULTURAL.
SHELTER FOR SHFEP

A-A414<L III ~ OhOG
For several years past, have noticed In
the columns Of the Telegraph various COM
munications on the benefit Of proper shelter
for farm stock, and although 1 agree with
their authors inthe main, yet there are cases
In which too much shelter may be given to
some kinds of farm stock.
well remember the maxim of "one-third
more shelter one-thifd less fecd,' but we
must not lose sight ofthe idea that economy
Of food is not al we are to look at in the
care Of ourdomestic animals.
As far as my experience and observation
go, have found sheep to be class of farm
stock which during the winter may have too
much shelter for their own benefit or thereal
benefit of The owner. With them shelter
seems to produce different effect on cattle
or other farm stock
Cattle when sheltered win consume about
the same amount Of food as when not shell
tered, but it is evident that as it takes less
to keep up the warmth Of the system a lar
ger amount is devoted to the increase in
weight, and hence, shelter is equivalent to
food,u' only in the amount of extra fat and
muscle formed, andnot In the saving of food.
With sheep this is not the case, for ifwell
sheltered they viii consume considerably less
food, but win neither fattennor grow as well,
and l therefore argue they may readily be,
and often are too much sheltered for the
highest profit to the owner of the flock.
From the above remarks would not wish
TO be understood to argue that this class of
farm stock should have no shelter-far from
it-but there is In everything a golden
mean for which we should strive. Sheep
do not need much protection against direct
cold, but suffer much more in fleece, flesh
and fat from wet than from cold. Hence,
all they need in the shape of shelter IS
tieht-roofed shed, boarded up on three sides
but entirely open on the side next to the
yard
During the first four years of our expert
ence with sheep, kept them entirely under
roof closed up tight on three SIDES, with
Stats In front. Every winter was sure to
lose from ten to twelve out of fifty or sixty
but was satisfied on comparing noses with
others Of my sheep-keeping neighbors, that
NV sheep consumed one-third less hay and
fodder than those not sheltered, but it was
also very evident that they did not come out
in as good order the spring as those not
too well taken care of, nor were the ewes as
successful in raising their lambs. Ofcourse
l was not long in looking around for the rem
edy, or rather for the cause, trusting that if
this was removed the effect would cease.
Since IhaYeremeved the front part of the
shed, and have added small yard for the
sheep to run In, and / find that, no matter
how cold the weather, (if not stormy,) the
sheep seem to prefer the yard to the shed,
and when not eating spend their time there
One very important point in the care of
sheep In winter is to furnish them with plen-
ty of pure air at all times; with other kinds
Of stock it is best to guard against direct
draughts ofcold air, but protected as the
sheep are they viii not feel that which to a
cowor horse would be injurious. This de-
sideratum / have attained by constructing
aventilator through the hay-mow over the
sheep pen, and through the roof. At all
times there is perceptible draft through
this ventilator, and ifa breeze is blowing in
at the open side ofthe shed the draft isstrong
enough to raise straw and chaf clear to the
roof
Another point which many of our sheep
breeders and feeders neglect is that in their
business two and two do not always make
four. That's, when they have had given
profit from thirty or fortv, ons given amount
of feed, they viii not always double their
profit with double the number of sheep con-
Stunning double the amount of feed.
Fifty viii be found to be as many as can be
proftably kept in one enclosure during the
winter, and if more are kept there should be
two focks and consequently two enclosures.
IF this trouble is taken there viii be a rea-
sonable chance to double the profit the feed
and sheep, but without it disappointment is
almost sure to result.
Ny rule is that FIVE sheep are equivalent to
q steer or COW, and hence with my facili-
ties for keeping ten steersI either keep five
steers and twenty-five sheep Or fifty sheep,
from which / can make more proft-Ger-
nsantosc.s Telegraph.
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