The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-01-13
Winter Management Of sheep.

In our article on Fall Management"
we brought our ideal fiocks up to the
first of December in good condition. The
present season, We think, fully showed
the Importance of giving little grain
and hay through December. We had
good weather up to the time winter set
in, with snow and such severe storm
as is seldom witnessed in our country;
at one time completely shutting off all
chance of green food. We noticed
many sheep that looked as though their
''internals" had been draTn, while some
that had been used to little grain
and hay every day stood chewing their
cud perfectly cOntented. Such animals
contriyed to thrive, OF at least held
their own, while the former began i'm
mediately to lose in flesh.
During the month of December the
fiocks should be sheltered at night, and
from rain and storms, and regularly fed
This, we thiBk the most important
month of winter. Sheep that have
been brought up to the first of January
in go0d thririRg condition, will need only
good attention and moderate feeding to
put them through till spring. Some
men will save their grain till spring
and then give it strongly, alleging that
at that time the animals need plenty of
strengthening food. In this, the object
is good, but the manner of accomplish
ing that object is erroneous ana some
times fatal to the poor sheep. Sheep
having been kept Oh short allowance
till spring, become weakened, and like
ly lose flesh, the animal functions be-
coming impaired; particularly is this
the case with ewes "ln lamb
Then commencing, say IN harch,
to give them a double portion to
strengthen, has mostly the opposite ef-
feet. The digestive system not having
power to digest and distribute the ex-
ira amount of feed, is more impaired,
and the whole system debilitated and
feverish, ofteni they lose much OF their
wool; and it is well if this be all, for
they often go down and die in the midst
of this abundance to the great surprise
of tho owner, who is at loss for rea-
son. We are in favor of an increase OF
grain at this season, provided the sheep
are in a good, healthy condition and
have been regularly grain fed through
the winter.
In January aud February the tlocks
are in regular feeding and most that is
necessary is careful and regular atten-
tion. Feed should be given at stated
hours every day. They should have
their grain, but more particularly their
hay, twice day-morHing and evening.
If grain is given but once q day we pre-
fer the morning, but the same amount
will do more good given twice day,
and the same way with hay. Our rea-
sons for the latter are. First, Hay racks
can not be structed-conrenieRt for
sheep to eat out ot-that will hold enough
to do them twenty-four hours without
needlessly wasting it. Second, Sheep
being delicate feeding animals,
will not (unless forced from hun
ger) eat hay that is breathed
on by others, which is necessarily the
case with hay that is left in the rack
sny length of time. The amount of dry
feed necessary for sheep differs so wide
ly, as to the size and situation of sheep,
that rule applicable to all cannot De
given, but We will say that every sheep
that will weigh, in good condition, sew
enty-fve or eighty pounds, should re-
ceive during the season not less than
one bushel Of corn, or its equivalent IN
grain, and as much good hay, or other
nutritious fodder, as it will eat clean
under farordble circumstances.
1t is essential that sheep should have
water all the time. Dew on the grass iI
summer, or snow in winter, is not at al
sufficient. 1t is absolutely necessary
when they are confined to dry feed thai
water be accessible considerable portion
of every day, and that they be taken tc
it if they do not 60, which they viii
soon learn to do, unless on account o.
storms and deep snow. They should
have salt two or three times a week the
year round, but far better plan is t.
have the salt kept in q box, open ano
free to them in their pastures during tn,
summer, and in their folds in the win
ter. / wish to be understood as talking
about keeping sheep prottGbly, and moi
as is the practice tciA too many Of as,
merely sustaining life in them through
the winter. But enough for the pres
| ent. SHEPHERD.