Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-01-26
Roots for sheep.


The crying need of our great
sheep industry is better mixed food
ration than is generally supplied by
owners, and more projection from
the inclemencies OF the weather.
There is no country on the globe
that is going to surpass the United
States for sheep raising, and the in
terests in this line are already of
such imposing magnitude that it is
almost the leading farm industry.
1t is not only wool raising that
makes the work so valuable, hut in
many parts of the country adjacent
to good markets, owners of sheep are
doubling their incomes by raising
superior mutton for the market as
well.
Breeds of sheep are being raised
which will supply excellent mutton
and good wool The wool. of course,
is not so good as the finest grown by
those who raise sheep only for this,
but is of such character that it is
in fair demand at reasonable prices.
Sheep are naturally hardy, says
Vic OdA bhIlNO
off poorer food and with less protec-
ton than most farm animals, but it
does not follow from this that they
do not improve under good treat
ment and repay the owner for an ex-
ira outlay expended upon them. On
the contrary it has been pretty well
demonstrated in many parts of this
hof mnn,,fnA
food and good care if they are to be
very profitable The grumbling gen.
orally comes from those who expect
the animals to shift for themselves
and make an income for their owners
while they do nothing. This is
more than can be expected. 1t is
necessary to look ahead and see that
food and good food, is prepared for
the sheep the year round, and also
good shelters.
Formerly sheep raisers never
thought of sowing and harvesting
crops for their animals. They were
supposed to get their living some
how on the prairies and among the
mountains. But it is pretty poor
economy to attempt that sort of
thing nowadays.
We need to grow crops for our
sheep and to supply them with
mixed ration, a diversified food. In
this ration roots play a most impor-
tant part They supply the amount
of water which all animals need when
fed dry food, and dry food must be
fed in the winter time They should
be grown extensively for winter use,
and should then be cut or mashed so
that they can be mixed with the hay,
bran, oats or mill feed. These roots
will prevent stomach troubles and
make the animals gain more from
their solid food than if not given at
all. 1t does not answer TO make
them take copious draughts of water
with their meals, for this washes
down great deal OF the food with
out being digested and assimilated.
The result is-there is a decided
waste Roots are also nourishing
and they are of great value to ewes
when giving milk. Sugar beets.
mangles, rutabagas and turnips, are
all of inestimable value TO the flock,
and they should be raised for winter
use in season, if sheep diseases are
to be avoided.
Mixed feeds for sheep are always
superior TO plain foods. and should
always be given when possible. l.
is in the mixed food that roots attain
their greatest value, for they make
the mixture more digestible. BY
giving certain amount of mixed
food each day regularly, with roots
included, it is estimated that one
saves fully twenty per cent in food;
in other words, eighty per cent of
mixed food is equal to 100 per cent
of plain.