The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-03
The Best Food for Ewes.

When ewes are fed exclusively on dry
food there is danger that they will become
feverish and constipated, says the American
Agr,cultmriSt. When this condition arises
they will generally show it by lying on the
ground and stretching themselves and
strainlng. Sometimes they will pluck at
their wool, and Sow signs of distress and
uneasiness. When sheep are in this condi-
ton they are not in good health to have
young. They will not provide as much
milk, and their udders are liable to be
caked and sore, or to show evidences of in
flammation. There is danger that they will
not own their lambs, and the milk will not
flow freely. When the udder is sore or
much infamed, even if the eve owns her
lamb, she will refuse to let it suck. Under
such circumstances the lamb very soon be-
comes weak and dies. Prevention is better
than cure for all these ailments, and this
lies in providing the eve with suitable food.
This must be such as not to produce a fe-
verish condition. It should be somewhat
laxative and well supplied with heterogeneous
elements. Such foods are wheat bran, oats,
pea-meal, beans and linseed meal. Corn is
unsuitable for breeding ewes, as it produces
fat and heat. There is no animal which re-
spends with better results tosucculent foods
than sheep and ewes with lamb Potatoes
do not seem to be adapted to this purpose:
turnips are natural food for ewes, as well
as for other sheep. Carrots are excellent,
and so are beets and man GELS A few roots
or small ration of these, say four quarts
day with bran and linseed meal, will put
ewes in most healthy and vigorous condl-
ton, and at the same time this combination
Of foods will tend to promote the growth
and support of the fetus, and when the
lamb is born it will have the bone and
strength to help itself, and it will give far
less trouble to get it on its legs and obtain
its sustenance from the mother. There is
such thing as feeding the lamb before it
is born--to nourish and strengthen it
through the blood Of its dam. This is an
important matter, and should never be lost
sight of in the feeding of the mother. The
idea is particularly applicable to the eve, as
its offspring is so likely to be weak and more
or less helpless. II the ewes have not been
fed on such foods during the winter, the
sooner this is done before Landing time the
better the feeding shoild be in limited
Quantities at first, not more than gill day
for few days, then gradually increase to a
quart or two, according to the size of the
eve. Three parts of wheat bran to one part
of linseed meal is good proportion, fed
twice day with the roots. Ewes may be
fed oats with roots and do well, but the
bran is almost invaluable, as it will furnish
the muscle and bone food required. When
ewes are to lamb soon, they should not be
fed on timothy hay, as it is not proper
sheep food. There is nothing so good in all
the list of forage plants as bright clover
hay. Sheep will do well on this food alone.
up to the time of lambing, as it is the best
balanced food in the whole list. The ewes
should have access to the water whenever
they want it, as they naturally drink but
little at time and drink often.