The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-09-15
Management Of Sheep in Summer.

An important point is certainly
gained when the stock-master has pro-
vided well drained and nutritious grass
ranges for his flocks. But there are
other considerations to claim attention.
The proper stocking of pastures is a
matter to be looked after. The ex-
tremes of overstocking and understood
ing must be avoided for best results.
Overstocking, the more frequent error.
causes scarcity of pasture and a de-
ficient supply of nutriment. The sheep
also take up sand and earth into their
stomachs with their food, and this causes
disease. On the other hand, when the
pasture is not close-cropped, the herb
age becomes hard and more or less in
digestible, so that sheep do not thrive
upon 1t. There is an old adage, fami-
liar to many shepherds, that s.twenty-
four hours pasture is best for sheep and
eight days grass for an OK" In
word, the close bite of sheep should be
furnished with close heritage, the ten
der growth of thick, short pasturage.
Pastures not closely cropped ought to
be either moved or pastured down by
cattle before the sheep are turned ON it.
1t pays, as a rule, to divide the flocks,
pasturing the younger and less vigor-
ous animals together; in word, sort
ing lambs and yearlings from mothers
and older ewes. and giving the former
the best pasturage. sf se
When the range is limited or the past |
ureis not ample, additional food should |
be supplied in way of corn, oats, bran |
or oatmeal. The day the pastures |
begin to fail, il provision IL |
not made for sufficient nutriment.
the quality of the wool will begin
to deteriorate and what is known as |
"break in the WOOL will be the result.
Care must also be exercised when extra
food is supplied to proportion it to the
real need of the sheep. An over supply
will result in an equal disadvantage, es-
pecially when there is overfeed one day,
and little or nothing next day. For
evenness in the fleece, sheep must be fed
is to say, they must from
pasture, range or feeding trough obtain
a due amount of nOurishment daily.
There Is no question but that irregular
feeding not only affects the health and
1esh Of the animal but diminishes the
growth and weight of fleece and weak
ms its fibre.
When pasture is insufficient, an eco
lomical plan is to supplement it by
owed green crops to be fed on the
,round or cut and fed in racks. Roots
ire also largely cultivated for this pur-
,ose.
A very important item is the supply
4 water. or course, when nature pro-
ides living springs or clear, flowing
treams, these are the best source Of
upply. Stagnant water is decidedly
Most shepherds give the
reference to hard water over soft
Tafer, when either can be had. on the
core that the former contains min I
raj matter. Waters containing .
ODDLY percentage of lime, soda, mag
esia, iron, sulphur, ETC., are positive /
PURGE of nourishment to sheep. A de- 4
cheney in mineral matter may be OBJ
lated by giving the sheep an occasional
fixture OF common salt, sulphur. pbos-
hate OF lime, bone dust, etc. A COM
ION source Of disease among sheep is
ond or marsh water and water lying :
the hollows of undrained pastures.
The exposure Of . pasture also has its
feet upon sheep Pastures near the I
'acoast exposed to moist sea-breezes !
'nder the wool harsh. Sheep exposed
north winds are lighter in weight
I'd less healthy than fiocks ON south 9
n exposure Long-continued winds !
q productive not only of discomfort :
It sickness in hock.-N =. World.