The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-08-17
BEST PASTURE FOR SHEEP.
II Should Be High or Rolling and A.
ways Well Drained.

Two readers have sent inquiries To-
Gently about pastures for sheep. One
has three pastures, through one emo
of which there is a running stream
bordered by quite a large amount OF
marsh land which overfiows during
wet spells. The balance of these fields
is high and rolling land. This last Is
ideal sheep land, but the low ground
is about the worst sort of a place to
Craze sheep.
The sheep is a dry land animal and
will not continue healthy for any
length of tine on wet springy soil.
These wet places are ideal breeding
ground for all sorts of internal para
sites that prey upon the sheep. Foot
diseases are induced also by the above
conditions and any one who has had
experience with genuine foot rot VIII
do his best to steer clear OF causes
that lead to this trouble, one OF the
worst with which the shepherd has TO
deal. This reader wishes to Craze
cattle on this field also, and they VIII
handle the feed on the land far bet
| ter than will the sheep, although we
| do not consider this sort of grazing
| the best for cattle by any means, the
| plants growing on this wet land not be-
| ing SO nutritious as those, grown on
well drained SOIL Cattle Will. accord
ing to our experience, thrive better on
this kind of grazing than any other
sort of live stock One Of the adyan-
tages of cattle over other classes OF
stock being that they are more hardy
and will adapt themselves to unfa-
yorable conditions more readily than
| will other animals.
Had this readers pastures
would arrange If possible to supply
water to the sheep from troughs locat-
ed on the higher positions of the
fields, and as the sheep will naturally
gravitate to these places-it being the
sleeps nature to love high points
there will be less danger of theii
becoming diseased than II the sheep
were required to seek the low ground
for their water supply. Having ten
cows to Craze on these fields. contain
. ing altogether As acres, this readel
wishes to know the number OF sheeI
: he will be safe In running with the
cattle. This will, of course, depen<
entirely upon what sort of pasture n
. has. II 1t be clear of brush and briar'
: well sodded and in high state o
: fertility it should furnish feed sum
cient for 100 sheep and the ten COWS
but on the average North Carolina pas
ture we would start with about
> sheep and increase the number W
saw il the pasture would warrant.
will be best to rotate the animals dul
y ing the summer season. starting tn
e whole number on field number ont
u then in about three weeks changing I
:, number two, then to number three
a then back again to number one, an
40 on. during the entire season. Shee
= especially require clean pastures, ciea
of brush and burrs, as these are yer
. damaging to the wool. the bushes,
pulling the wool when the sheep com
10 in contact with them, and the burr
IL by adhering to it, rendering the pr
ne duct less valuable to the weaver. ii
"a sheep and cattle win aid very mat
be rally in keeping the pastures clear
TX briars after the old canes are ont
ie cut and gotten out of the way, Il
De young shoots being very palatable
ne both classes of animals, but the D
ars must be cut each season
{. French in Progressive Farmer.