Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-08
DatIp Kerlneber Journal.
Preparing sheep For winter.


Every fock-master should be sure OF
the condition OF his sheep at the COM
mencement of cold weather. 1t is inexcu-
sable 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. It Is hard struggle to improve
the condition of thin sheep in the winter,
az they have to eat more food TO keep
warm, than if they were In good condi-
ton.
If farmers think they are saving food
by keeping thin focks 80 sparefy that the
warm season does not put them in good
condition, then they greatly deceive them
selves. 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 compell-
ed to furnish more. or lose his sheep in
cold weather. Sheep always make the
most of pasture, and no animal makes
much that comes after them.
And, if sheep are thin. it is quite evil
dent that extra food is needed. and this
feed some cooling and Strengthening,
rather than fattening food. Wheat bran,
fed in troughs, is a safe and good food,
and 10 the thinnest sheep little shelled
corn may be mixed with the bran. But
corn must be avoided in warm weather
tor 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 con-
dition as all breeding ship should be in to
90 safely through the winter. should not
be regretted as loss, because 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 happens that only small part
of the flock remain thin. the pasture hav
ing been sufficient tor the best breeders /;
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
required, and produces also a better re-
suit.
Those hocks that are intended to be fat
tened tor the spring 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 moderate fall wealth
er. 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 season, and
in such cases no corn should be given, but
their condition simply kept up by little
bran, even that given in great moderation.
rs any pushing OF such is likely to develop
tebrile 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 sell
dom occurs. but the opposite (too tbin) is
very apt to occur, and these are the cases
that require wise pushing. But all feed
ing requires the expert eye of the feeder
to determine the proper limits of the ra-
ton, tor 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 grad
ually 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 !lock.-Nati0nal Lire
Stock Journal