The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-01-30
for the Farmer.
PATCHING SHEEP IN WINTER.

In fattening sheep in winter the first thing to
he provided is a dry yard with an open she'd
Nothing is so injurious TO sheep as wet quarters.
When left to themselves, they always select the
highest and dryest places in the field to lie upon.
Racks and feeding troughs must also be fur
nished; and what is of equal Importance, they
must be filled with proper food. No fodder fats
sheep like clover hay. If they could have some
roots, SO much the better; but sheep can be fat
tened, and rapidly and profitably, too without
roots sheep weighing 100 lbs will eat about
three pounds of clover hay or its equivalent, per
day. 1t is well to let them have access to straw
or corn stalks at all times giving them hay night
and morning.
One object in fattening sheep in winter is to
increase the quantity and quality Of the manure.
English farmers, who feed large quantities Of oil
cake to sheep, consider it profitable business
when the increased value of the sheep pays for
the oilcake consumed. They consider the value
Of the manure equivalent to the turnips and 9TH
| er food, except the purchased oil cake, which the
sheep eat. Taking the value of the manure into
consideration, no food is good for sheep-none
will yield a greater pro6t-than oilcake. Half q
pound to each sheep per day is good average al
creasing the quantity. If large mutton sheep,
they may be allowed a larger quantity. Oats,
peas, and beans are also excellent for sheep, and
so is indian meal but the manure made from the
latter is not so valuable from Oil-cake, peas,
or beans. Clover containing much more nitrogen
clover hay is much the most valuable.
Sheep are tinid creatures, and should never be
disturbed by the presence of dogs, or in any 9TH
er way. BY eating snow, they manage to live
without water, but they will not thrive or fattsn
well without regular supply. little salt
should be given occasionally, but not in too large
quantities. When they have Oilcake and clover
hay little salt is required, considerable guam
tity is provided in these foods.
The course wooded sheep, when well bred, will
undoubtedly furnish more mutton for the food
| consumed than the iine-wooled Sheppard, other
things being equal, would be the most profitable
sheep for fattening in winter. But as the COM
mon sheep Of the country can be purchased much
cheaper in the fall than well bred mutton sheep
greater profit is often realized from them than
from the English breeds. Mutton is much high
in the spring than in the fall, and the profits
of fattening sheep in winter depend as much on
this increased value of mutton on the increased
weight of the sheep. 1t is doubtful whether We
could afford TO fatten sheep in winter, if we had
to pay six cents pound for sheep in the fall and
sell them for six cents pound in the Spring, de-
pending on the increase of mutton and wool to
pay for the food and trouble; but if We can buy
at three cents aud sell for eight nine, the prUf
its are very considerable. / give these figures,
not as actual representatives Of. hat can be
done, but merely to illustrate my meaning got
this idea from the sGenesee Farmer three years
ago, and have since then purchased common
sheep in the fall, ut from 81 IS to 81 so per head
and sold them in the Spring at from "a to Sc, and
have found the businesses pleasant and prOfita-
BILE One.-COr. GeResee Fdrme