Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-03-17
Sheep Husbandry.

of Agriculture, from which we make
Il few extracts
Good sheep husbandry costs less
than poor, and rays thrccfold more.
Good sheep husbandry consists i'll Il
great measure in doing the right work
at the right time. Thus, it wc shear
sheep, we DO it in season; do not let
them wear their fleece a month after
il has become bur,lcnsome to them.
June is one OF The best months in the
year for sheep TO thrive, if they arc
slorn. 1t costs less to house II flock
Of sheep that arc just shorn before u
storm, than it docs to cart them to the
barn when they are bcnumcl and
chilled. 1t costs less to mend the
fence before the sheep Get into the
habit Of being unrully, rs We call it.
1t costs less to cut and cure the hay
i'll season and when the sun shines,
than il does to do it out Of season and
i'll rainy weather. If from any cause
our hay is poor, il costs less to feed
some grain in season, than it locs to
let the sheep lose flesh and get poor,
and then spend our lime in nursing
and doctorirg them. think there is
4 provcrb Which is, that good food is
cheaper than doctors. Without pur-
suing this subject further, l repeat
that good sheep hushandry costs less
than poor, and pays thrccioid better.
~ flock Of fshccp require but little
care duri;g The Summer months,
except that they l.aveplrnty Of good
feed and salt, and are seen TO that
none Of them arc sick or diseased. The
principal work to be done in this
season is 10 raise q suitable quantity
Of root, &c., and cut in the proper
season, and cure well, and store the
necessary supply Of hay and grain.
l'ar>=z:=anpIes. and pumpkins arc
necessary, TO some extent. for the
sleep i'll Winter, net only on account
Of the nourshmcnt they contain, but
TO supply the lack Of green food, and
to keep the sheep i'll Il healthy con
lition.
The cutting Of The hay in proper
season, and curing well, and storing
the same, is one Of the essential points
Of good sheep husbandry. IF, from
any cause, we fail to do this, our sheep
the next Spring are poor AMI weak,
and we lave bad luck in raising
lambs, the sole cause Of which is, that
the sheep during the Winter have
been eating poor hay, and vainly cn-
dcavorilg to obtain from the same
their necessary amount Of nourisll-
mcnt which the hay.did not contain.
Coarse and rank timothy makes fair
sheep hay, ifitis cut a few days be-
fore 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 we'll cured. Sheep
prefer II variety Of good hay, instead
Of being confined TO one kind only.
Lambs should be wcaned when they
are four months old, and turned into
good feed. If they are fed daily, i'll
addition to good grass and hay, one
pint Of oats and shorts apiece, until
they are turned out to grass next
Spring, they will have good start
toward making sheep with Il good
constitution. ! believe it to be u fact,
if We would raise sheep with good
constitutions, We must supply them
literally during their growth with
that kind OF food that will furnish
them with the necessary amount of
bone, muscle and strength.
Sheep, and lambs in particular,
should be housed during cold storms
in the Fall end be fed with hay,
which they should learn to eat before
they arc entirely deprived of grass
All kinds Of sheep, and breeding
ewes in particular, should come to the
barn i'll good condition in the Fall.
This is necessary in older that they
may be able to well develop their