Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-03-28
SUCCESSFUL SHEEP RAISING.

When starting in my business life in
1882, says Jonathan TalcOtt in the Err
aminer, sheep were considered by their
owners able to stand all storms of fall
and winter unprotected. With an open
shed to run under at will, their owners
thought them we'll protected in winter,
and amply cared for if they had plenty
of hay given them in an open yard. In
stormy weather their hay would be given
them under their sheds Grain was not
counted in their daily ratiOns. Sheep III
those days were not expected to come to
the barn till the fields were covered with
snow, and no more feed could be cleaned
by the flock. The barnyard was then
the last resort. After falling off in flesh
the last few weeks in pasture, they were
brought to the barn, in too many IN
stances, to continue to lose flesh and APP
petite, and if they lived through the
winter (Which some failed to do), many
of the breeding ewes lost their lambs,
and nearly their feeces also, under the
treatment they had received since the
early fall.
l am sorry to say that l began my
sheep husbandry in the way just de-
scribed, and followed it too many years
for the good Of the sheep, as we'll as for
my own profit. | therefore resolved to-
change my method of caring for the flock
in winter, which | did by enclosing an
open shed with rough boards. A man
ger was constructed to feed the flock in
under cover. secure from all storms either
of rain or snow. A board window was
made, about two feet wide and twelve
feet long, hung on hinges, on the
south side of the shed that could be
opened and fastened up in pleasant
weather to let in sunshine and air, and
also let down and closed at night and in
stormy weather. The result exceeded
my most sanguinc expectations, in growth
of sheep, in the increase of wool and the
extra number of lambs raised. Here
were three direct gains resulting from
protection in its rudest form, growth of
sheep, increase of wool and the increase
of the flock. These items turned the
scale in my favor. There was profit in
sheep industry that | had not known be-
fore this experiment was tried, and that,
too, in opposition to all had been taught
by precept and example and observation
of the doings Of older farmers VINO were
engaged in sheep husbandry in my
vicinity.
This experiment was so satisfactory
that determined to improve upon it, if
possible, beginning TO house my flock
during all cold transforms in the fall, or
snowstorms, if any came before the flock
were put into winter quarters, taking care
that their feeding racks were well filed
with hay before the sheep were housed,
thus getting the flock used TO eating hay
before they were confined in their winter
quarters.
After the benefits of protection were
fully established TO my satisfaction, a
more liberal course Of feeding was
adopted grain ration Of corn was fed
the flock as soon as grass failed 70 give
them proper sus,cnance, and was con
tinued TIM about the first OF June OF the
following year. The ewes were thus
kept strong and vigorous, and the lambs
also were strong and healthy, and nearly
all were raised. Thus the flock increased
rapidly in numbers and condition.