The Brookhaven leader., 1884-01-03
Feeding Sheep for Market.

A subscriber ST Superior, Neb., 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 distribute
ed readers may find the instruct on their
specialtics require. Our correspondent
is in Nuckolls County, which lies along
the Northern border of Kansas, and is a
fine grazing county, having nutritious
pasturage, where sheep should thrive
finely, and be in proper condition at the
beginning of cold weather for winter
fattening for market W hen drafts are
to be made from flock for fatteninr in
winter, only the best feeders should be
selected. Thin, unthrifty sheep should
always be started by extra feeding upon
pasture, and this should be done early
in fall. The extra food will then have
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 regu-
larity in feeding and 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, no
doubt, large numbers of sheep to select
from, which will give him the best facil-
ity for choosing succe sful feeders. 1t
iS inn "a N In nI,.rC nt
sheep for market to establish 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 proper shelter, we
must determine the method of feeding
for market. The details of this will de-
pend somewhat upon the length of time
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
cesslully used as the grain food. The
hay will supply the lack of albuminoids
in the corn. One pound to one and .
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, halt
given in the morning, and the other at
four p. m.
If the feeder has good troughs, the
best way is to spread 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
If wheat bran and middlings are cheap
er than corn, then feed one-half pound
of these with one pound of corn.
Should hay be scarce 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 at the western mills at about
$50 per ton. But if oil meal is not to
be had at reasonable price, then feed
oats and corn half and half, or wheat
middlings and corn. Ruckwheat is
often fed to sheep when cheap. The
celebrated New York sheep feeder.
John Johnston, often successfully fed
buckwheat. The feeder can never feed
too great a variety Of food. 1t is coed
plan to mix three or four kinds of grain
together for feeding sheep. Sheep are
fond of a variety of food, and will keep
in better health and fatten faster for it.
But it 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
the circumstances as he finds them, and
adapt the ration to the wants of his
flock. National LiUa- Stock Journal.