Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-01-02
Feeding Sheep.

unity laIHleTs Oh DuylnS up HOcKS OF
sheep in the fall to fatten during the
winter. This fact is evidence that there
is " money in it," and such a system can
not fail to keep up the fertility of the
farm. The question of direct profit or
loss beyond the value of the manure,
depends largely on the degree of skill
employed in the purchase and feeding of
the sheep. A flock of thin, rundown
scrubs are expensive at any price, and
the true method is to buy good sheep in
fair, thrifty condition. As a writer in
the Country Gentleman says: ut costs
more to get a thin sheep into condition
than he is worth, in a great majority of
cases. Sheep are peculiar feeders. If
thin they have to be fed very carefully.
A trifie too much feed gives them the
sscours,' and they 90 from bad to worse.
Fat, strong sheep will bear more feeding,
but in any case feed light at first and in
crease gradually. he careful not to give
more at any time than the sheep will eat
clean. 1t is well to begin feeding corn
while the sheep are in the fields, and from
one-fourth to One-half pound Of corn per
day is as much as should be given at
first. If they eat this readily give a lit
tie more until the sheep are put in the
barnyard, when the usual quantity is
n pound Of shelled corn mot ground)
per day. Sheep will digest unground
corn with smaller loss than any other
animal, not excepting poultry. 1t is less
likely to cloy than corn-meal. Some
times in cold weather in winter large
coarse wooded sheep may be got to eat
two pounds per day of corn but 10 heavy
feeding is not usual. The more, how
ever sheep "a be made to eat without
cloying the greater the profit.
Some kind OF roots makes a very bene-
fetal addition to the bill of fare. They
do not save corn. In fact the object of
feeding roots in this country is to induce
the sheep to eat more corr than they
otherwise would. We use a slicer to cut
up the roots, but in England turnips are
fed OF as they grow in the field. I do
not suppose that our American sheep
could be got TO eat turnips in this fash
ion; at any rate, l am sure they would
not fatten. Turnips alone are scarcely
fa~ttening in this country, however fed.
They are useful as an appetizer. and
Sn~' "SiP ehO I0ecCuiuk pIOCeSS. OtneT
roots-beets, mangolds, small potatoes,
and apples when cheap enough-are also
used, and as only small quantities are
given daily. lido not know that one is
better than another. The reliance for
fattening is the corn, one to one and a
half pounds daily, and about two pounds
OF clover hay, with as much straw as
they will eat. Sheep like a variety Of
food. 1t does them good to nibble at
this and that; hence sheep will often eat
one-half pound or more of straw daily.
while fully supplied with hay and corn.
The grain does not diminish the amount
of coarser feed used. but rather in.
creases it.
Much depends upon keeping sheen
dry and quiet. Have a shed with a good
roof, or an underground barn basement
for them to 90 under when the weather
is cold or wet. Rain and snow are es-
pecialiy injurious, as the moisture is
soaked into the wool, and is only slowly
dried away, at the same time chilling the
sleeps body. Dry cold is seldom iniu-
rious. Any n will be surprised to
know how much heat is generated in a