Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-01-18
Feeding Sheep for Market.

: A subscriber a. Superior, Ncb., writes
us to give an article upon this topic,
and, although we have often discussed
it, yet we must run the risk of some
repetition, that all our widely distribut-
ed readers may find the instruction their
specialties require. Our correspondent
is in Nuckolls County, which lies along
the Northern border of Kansas, and is q
fine grazing county, having a nutritious
pasturage, where sheep should thrive
finely, and be in proper condition at the
beginning of cold weather for winter
f%attening for market. When drafts are
to be made from q flock for fattening in
winter, only the best feeders should be
selected. Thin, unthrifty sheep shoule
always be started by extra feeding upon
pasture, and this should be done early
in fall. The extra food will then have
a much greater effect than in cold
weather.
When the fattening sheep have been
selected, they should be sheltered in
corrals. The best results from feeding
can never be had in the open air during
a cold winter, or in storms. Great q
larity in feeding and a uniform ration
must be observed, If steady progress is
to be made.
Success in fattening sheep for market
depends very largely upon the sheep to
be fed, and therefore the exercise of the
best Judgment in the selections is most
important. Our correspondent has, nc
doubt, large numbers of sheep to select
from, which will give him the best facil.
ity for choosing successful feeders. |
is very important for regular feeders OF
sheep for market to establish a reputa
ton for sending only the best fattened
sheep to market. This reputation gives
a standard value to his brand. greatly
facilitates sales, secures top prices, and
decidedly adds to the profits Of the bust
ness.
Having selected the sheep for feed
ing, and provided a proper shelter, we
must determine the method of feeding
for market. The details of this will de
pend somewhat upon the length of tim
the locality has been settled, whether
the fodder consists of straw or hay.
With plenty of good hay, of cultivated
or wild grasses, corn alone may be sue
%cessfully used as the grain food. The
hay. will supply the lack of albuminoiis
in the corn. One pound to one and a
half pounds of corn, according to size
of the sheep, will be required, with
what hay they will eat clean. This
corn ration should be divided, half
given in the morning, and the other a
four p. IN.
If the feeder has good troughs, the
best way is to spread a thin layer of
hay in the bottom of the trough, and
then spread the corn on this, so that
the sheep will eat some of the hay with
the corn; this will cause most of the
corn to be remasticated with the cud.
IL wheat bran and middlings are cheap
er tina corn, then feed one-half poun
OF these with one pound of corn.
Should hay bescarce and straw plenty,
straw may be successfully used to fatten
sheep. But with straw some very nj.
trogenous food must be given-such as
one-half pound of oil meal with one
pound of corn per day, and all the straw
they will eat, with water regularly
given. Oil cake or meal ought to be
purchased ut the western mills at about
$50 per ton. But if oil meal is not To
be had at q reasonable price, then feed
oats and corn half and half, or wheat
middlings and corn. Buckwheat is
often fed to sheep when cheap. The
celebrated New York sheep-feeder.
John Johnston, often successfully fed
buckwheat. The feeder can never feed
100 great a variety OF food. 1t is a coed
plan to mix three or four kinds of grain
together for feeding sheep. Sheep are
iond OF a variety of food, and will keep
In better health and fatten faster for #.
But 1t is quite out of the question to
give a definite ration to be given under
all circumstances The experienced
eye OF the feeder must be able to meet
d circumstances as he finds them. and
adapt the ration to the wants of his
dock.-Nakonal Livs- Stock Journal