Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-01-12

E FEEDING SHEEP. 5
Danger Of Too Mucn Grnin-Cou. {
o fOrmity With Habits and {
Q Constitution - Bulky :
8 Food necessary. {

~ s
Q Constitution - Bulky
= Food Necessary. =
Sheep are not robust animals. On
the contrary they need every possible
attention and conformity with their
habits and constitution, says The Sheep
Breeder. This is most applicable to
their feeding. They are naturally
adapted. as to their teeth and digestive
organs, to short. fine food. To Craze on
short heritage and to clip the tender
shoots Of bushes is their vocation.
Hence the "roughncss" Of a farm is
not desirable or ven suitable for them.
1t will not do to throw Il bunch Of
stalks Of corn to sheep, as it may do
for cattle or horses. The blades Of
corn ever are too rough fodder for
them. The best possible dry feeding Of
sheep is early cut, tender clover hay,
with the addition of sliced roots. This
is the best possible dry, coars feeding
for the winter. Ewes may be kept in
the best condition III this feed without
grain. The addition of some grain lat
er, when the lambs are to be thought
of, will be necessary, but only a moder-
ate ration need be given.
Sheep are naturally h%erbivorous, and
mischief is frequently done by over
crowding them with grain when their
digestive apparatus is suitable only for
herbaceous fodder. Grain eating ami
mails do not need n large stomach O
q series Of them for the gradual reduc-
ton of the hard and concentrated food
to soluble pulp. Doubtless the majori-
ty Of sheep lost during the winter feed
ing season die on account Of a misun-
d%erstanding Of this natural condition
and requirement. Bulky food is essen
tial to a herbivorOuS and Illuminating
animal. Sometimes, for instance. COWS
have been fed n whole winter on finely
ground cornmeal without any coarse
food whatever, even hay. The result
has been that rumination not being re-
quired for the due maceration of the
food. this function was wholly sus-
pended. The size Of the stomach even
decreased. shrinking. as the common
adage goes. ito the size of the ration"
Life was preserved doubtless. and this
might have bcen useful in times Of
shortage Of coarse fodder. but we new
er heard Of any person but the discov-
erer of this new method of feeding in
the winter who tried the experiment.
This is 4 typical instance Of natural re-
quircments Of herbivorous animals.
Nature has been an exemplary pro-
WIDER for her W needs, and the natu-
raj habit of feeding of any race of ami
mails which has been in existence for
we know not how many thousands of
years cannot well be set aside or dis
turbed by modern invention. The
shepherd must take his flock as they
We're made and now exist. And the
closer he 4 initiate the natural meth
DDS and habits Of the race the better
success he will meet with in rearing
the flock. Hence the winter feeding
should be spare of grain except for the.
fattening flock, and fattening any ami
NAL is only n method disturbing the
balance of nature, and excessive fat
ness is a true disease. so that the SAT-
est kind of feeding will be that which
most nearly approaches the natural
habits of the sheep. Fine. tender,
sweet, nutritious fodder, with a moder-
ate proportion Of coarser stuff, as roots
or straw, to distend the bowels and
help their most effective mechanical
the vermiform) motion of them, by
which the eaten food is gradually pass
ed along the digestive channel, will be
far more %congenial and healthful than
~overcrowding them with unnatural ra-
ions Of grain. OF course it IS under
stood that this applies to the flock in
its ordinary condition, as ewes kept for
the increase of the flock and not for
fattening for the market.