The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-20
Sheep Snferesf.
Summer Management of Sheep.

the lambs from their dams will allow
him greater freedom from immediate
oversight of the flock than he has
been able to find during the winter
and spring months. This assumes
that he has taken the precaution to
provide ample and suitable ~pastura9e
with is indispensable supply of water.
With these, and a light ration of salt.
furnished at regular intervals of four
or five days, his sheep NAV reasonably
be expected to make satisfactory I'M
provcmeut. A plentiful supply of
milk, supplemented by the pasturage
to which the lambs will now do full
justice, will advance them rapidly,
without perceplibly interfering with
the thrift of the mothers. That the
occasional exceptions may be discov-
cred and receive such attention as their
several cases may require, the entire
flock should be carefully looked
through as often as once each day.
This is especially important during the
first few weeks after abandoning arti-
fetal feed, as the fresh grass with
which some of the animals are certain
to gorge themselves is quite sure to
result in more or less Inconvenience.
If the animals are yarded at night
and to insure exemption from the
ravages of dogs, wolves, ETC., this will
be found the best practice-such times
as they are moving into or out of the
inclosure will afford good opportunity
for examination.
In humid weather accumulations of
filth, or wounds that in any wise
lacerate the skin, are quite likely to at
tract flies, and unless immediate at
tention is given, the unfortunate animal
will in a few days die from the tortures
inflicted by maSgOts. Losses from
this cause are much heavier than the
inexperienced would deem possible.
Next in importance to a plentiful
supply of grass is a sufiiciency of water.
The importance of water-in fact its
necessity to the highest thrift of the
fock-is not always appreciated.
Water needs to be not only plenty,
there is equal Importance that ii
should be good. The best source is a
running stream, as this is equally &C.
cessibie to all the flock at one time,
and the most convenient. Next to
this is "a good well, so equipped with
pump and troughs as Il meet the
requirements as near as may be. This
necessitates, in addition to the expense
of preparations, the constant labor and
care to have water ready when needed
of itself no light undertaking. The
least desirable dependcnce-and often
little if any better than none-is the
pond. Exceptional size and depth of
nnpI may nppaSinnalIxy raSat1n fhic tlat
of watering stock from condemnation,
but "a few seasons experience will
impel the prudent flock manager to
free himself from such dependence a.
soon as his circumstances will permit
No summe pasture can be consider
ed complete unless provided will
shade. OF course many flocks do wei
without this luxury; but anyone who
has noticed the avidity with which
shade is sought, and the tenacity witt
which it is adhered to when accessible
needs no other argument as to its de
STABILITY in promoting the comfort o
sheep after the morning appetite ha'
been satisfied. While the instinct D
the sheep may be depended upon as
safe index in this direction, the judg
ment of the shepherd will be required
10 insure the best results. If the ami
mails are permitted to huddle too close
ly, the comfort that would otherwis,
come from exemption from the sun
rays will find an offset in the vitiatet
air and increased bodily heat. TC
avoid this result, shade should be am
pie for the accommodation of the ell
tire flock without the necessity o
crowding. In very warm weathe
animals that are comfortably shaded
will be inclined to thus spend a porti)l
of the time which could better be de
voted to grazing. Early in the after
noon they should be reused and turned
toward the range, if not in good tim
moving of their own accord. Thes,
resting places should be regularl.
cleaned, or following rains they vii
be the source of great annoyance
When dry, a mai and team, with a
ordinary road scraper, will quickl
pile the droppings SO as to make then
available for use at some other point.
Sheep will i've and quite often viel
fair returns to their owner when sui
jected to many privations. From thi
fact, seized upon and elaborated by in
dolent shepherds, has arisen a TO
common impression that any kind {
treatment is good enough for a sheer
Flocks have been known to liv
through an entire season withou
water, but no man who has given til
subject any though will believe tn
they would not have been advantage
it plenty of good water had been SUI
piled them. So with shade. Thou
ands of flocks are compelled to pas
through the entire season without +,
lief from the daily glare and heat c
the ummer solstice; but any ma
who has seen animals thus expose
seek relief in the shadow of fence, q
wagon, or whatever would momeI
tarily break the suns rays, should +,
quire no further argument AS TO Il
ACCESSIBILITY of providing shade whel
practicable. And there are few col
ditlons under which il is not practic
bic. Where natural shade cannot |
had, IA few wagon loads of poles, and
few tons of straw or grass, or II fe
thousand feet of boards, will provide