The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-10-04
Preparing Sheep for Winter.

the condition of his sheep at the COM
mencement of cold weather. 1t is in
cxcusable neglect to allow breeding
sheep to be thin at the beginning of
winter. When sheep are thin, as the
cold season begins, they are likely to
be thinner, if alive, at the end. 1t is a
hard struggle to improve the condi-
ton of thin sheep in winter, as they
have to eat more food to keep warm
than if they were in good condition.
If farmers think they are saving food
by keeping thin fiocks so sparely that
the warm season does not put them in
good condition. then they greatly de-
ceive themselves. Much less extra
food, in warm weather, will put sheep
in good condition than will be required
to keep the thin sheep warm in winter.
So it is a great economy to furnish the
extra food in warm weather rather than
to be compelled to furnish more or
lose his sheep in cold weather. Sheep
always make the most of a pasture, and
no animal makes much that comes after
them.
evident that extra food is needed, and
this should be given at once. 1t is
safer to feed some cooling and
strengthening, rather than fattening
food. Wheat bran, fed in troughs, is a
safe and good food, and to the thnnest
sheep little shelled corn may be
mixed with the bran. But corn must
be avoided in warm weather for sheep
that are fleshy; and yet for those very
thin the corn will be safe, and assist in
putting them rapidly in condition.
This small amount of extra food fed
to sheep in the fall to put them in.such
condition as all breeding sheep should
be in to go safely through the winter,
should not be regretted as a loss, be-
cause as the sheep make the most out
of the pasture, its deficiency must be
made up in order to give the pasture
its greatest value. 1t sometimes hap
pens that only a small part of the flock
remain thin. the pasture having been
sufficient for the best feeders; in which
case, the thin sheep should be separated
from the rest and fed this extra food
where they will not be molested. This
reduces the amount of extra food re-
quired, and produces also better re-
suit.
Those focks that are intended to be
fattened for the spriag sale, or to be
turned at the best opportunity, should
now have careful attention. The warm
weather is the time to push them. The
better their condition becomes in mod
crate fall weather, the less food will be
required in the cold season.
But care must be taken not to over
feed those that are fat in the warm sea-
son, and in such cases no corn should
be given, but their condition simply
kept up by little bran, even that
given in great moderation, as any push
Ing of such is likely to develop febrile
diseases, which are very dangerous.
Those that are becoming quite fat
should be put upon spare diet with
plenty of good water, or they should
be sold if the market will warrant.
This case of getting dangerously fat in
the fall seldom occurs, but the opposite
(too thin) is very apt to occur, and
these are the cases that require wise
pushing. But all feeding requifes the
expert eye of the feeder to determine
the proper limits of the ration, for it
had better be little under than over
the normal capacity of the animal.
The season is favorable for the best
progress, but great care should always
be taken not to over-tax the digestive
power of the stomach. The feeding
ought to begin with bran as a light
food, and gradually add little corn.
We should always advise linseed-oil
meal to be kept on hand, and about one
pound per week fed to each sheep.
This will pay back all it costs, and will
aid much in promoting the health of
the fattening flock. - National Liue
Stool Journal