Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-05-18
Sheep Husbandry.

Less attention has been given to the rails
ing Of mutton and wool for two or three
years than formerly, on account of the pre-
vaiing low prices. But since the scale of
Of prices has turned in the ascendant, an
increased interest in the business may be ex-
pected. That those who may 60 into the
business may get started Alright, aud that
those who arc already in it may get some
valuable information, we condense some sug.
gestions presented by well-known breeder
of sheep to the Vermont board of agricul.
ture. Good sheep husbandry, he says, costs
less than poor, and pays much larger; this
consists 10 great measure in doing the right
work at the right time. In relation to shear.
ing, this rule applies with great force. june
is one Of the best months in the year for
sheep to thrive, If they are shorn. 1t costs
less to house flock of sheep that are Just
shorn, before a storm, than it does to cart
them to the barn when they are beuumbed
aud chilled. 1t costs less to mend the fence
before the sheep get into the habit Of being
unruly as we call it, 1t costs less to cut and
cure the hay in season and when the sun
shines, than it does to do it out Of season,
and in rainy weather. If from any reason
hay is poor it costs less to feed some grain
in season, than it does to let the sheep lose
flesh and got poor, and then spend our time
in nursing and doctoring them. l think
there is proverb which is, that good food
is cheaper than doctors.
The cutting of the hay in proper season
and curing well, and storing the same, is one
of the essential points of good sheep hus-
bandry. If, from any cause, we fail to do
this, our sheep the next spring are poor and
weak, and We have bad luck in raising
lambs, the sole cause of which is, that the
sheep during the winter have been eating
poor hay. and vainly endeavoring to obtain
from the same their necessary amount of
nourishment which the hay did not contain.
Coarse and rank timothy makes fair sheep
hay, if it is cut few days before it begins
to blossom and is well cured
Nearly all kinds Of low lands and swamp
hay are good sheep hay, if cut in season
and well cured. Sheep prefer variety Of
good hay instead of being confined to one
only.
Lambs should be weaned when they are
four months old, aud turned into good feed
If they are fed daily, in addition to good
grass, and one pint of oats and shorts apiece
until they are turned out to grass the next
spring they will have good start toward
making n sheep with good constitution.
If we would raise sheep with good constitu-
tions we must supply them literally during
their growth with that kind of food that will
furnish them with the necessary amount Of
bone, muscle aud strength.
Sheep, aud lambs in particular, should be
housed during cold storms in the fall and be
fed with hay, which they should learn to
eat before they are entirely deprived Of
grass. All kinds of sheep and breeding
ewes in particular, should come to the barn
in good condition in the fall This is neces.
sary in order that they may be able to well
develop their lambs. All kinds Of sheep
should be allowed to run out daily upon the
ground daily in the late fall aud early win.
ter and spring. Sulphur aud ashes should
be fed to sheep with their salt during the
winter. Sulphur is health for the sheep,
and is offensive to vermin.
Ashes are also healthy and essential for
breeding ewes. 1t sometimes happens that
strong lambs droop and die while the dams
have good supply of milk. If the stom-
ach of such lambs are opened they would be
found to be packed and distenied with hard
curd, which was the cause of their death.
The remedy for this is to feed the breeding
ewes with some kind OF mild alkai, like
ashes, for some time previous to the time of
dropping their lambs
Sheep should be turned out upon tn 10
ground daily, as soon as there is a spot bare
that is large enough for them to stand upon,
for the air in their pens and stables is gen.
orally impure, and no amount Of good feed
will supply the lack of good air and oxer-
else.
There are various diseases which sheep
and lambs sometimes have, and troubles to
encounter in breeding sheep. There are
causes for all these. 1t should be one OF
the studies of the sheep breeder to learn
what those causes are and how to avoid
them when we do that we shall have good
luck in sheep husbandry,