The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-21
For Breeding Ewes.
From the Michigan Farmer.

With breeding ewes constipation is
probably one of the most common of
digestive troubles. In the early stages
of attack there are no serious symp-
toms of distress in fact several ami
mails in the flock may be suffering
from mild form of constipation and
yet not reveal and indications of the
attack, if any individual in the flock
has an attack of scours the skillful
flock owner will Immediately observe
the trouble, but with constipation
there are no external symptoms in the
early stages, thus making the attack
all the more serious and difficult to
detect and treat In the majority of
instances constipation in sheep is
caused from the lack of sufficient di-
gestive secretions to properly perform
the function of digestion. AS a result
of this deficiency of digestive secre-
tons the whole system becomes slug
gish and sooner or later the action
necessary to carry on digestion grad
| ually ceases.
There is but one treatment to adj
minister to sheep attacked with con-
stipation, and that is to give some
kind of laxative that will assist the
functions of the digestive system and
help open passage through the di-
| gestive tract. In cases of this nature
that have run a long course I have
never found purgative that possess
ed sufficient effectiveness to accom-
| plish its work before the animal had
succombed. 1 therefore consider it Of
| a far greater Importance to endeavor
| to prevent an attack of constipation
| than to attempt to administer a cure.
1t is indeed very seldom that any
| medicine can be gotten down sheep
that is sufficient for a digestive trou-
BILE that will relieve the situation be-
fore the disease has run its course and
completed it's deadly work.
During the winter months, while
is more danger of attacks of digestive
trouble than in summer, when the |
grass is plentiful and supplies abund-
ance of succulent food in the daily |
ration. The succulent effect of grass !
and its high adoption Ito the needs of
sheep keeps the digestive system in
good working order, and is very sell
dom that the digestive tract is the di-
rect cause of serious trouble. The
far larger portion of flock owners do
not make any provision for supply
ing their flocks with succulent food
during the long winter months, and
the digestive tract becomes impair
ed and out of tone. Thus the gate
way is thrown open for the entrance
of various digestive troubles that if
not checked may result fatally.
1t is a great deal better, and more
profitable in the long run, to avoid
trouble by making some provision to
ward off an attack than it is to adj
minister treatment, no matter how
simply or effectual. A few expert
ences with digestive trouble in the
flock ought TO convince the most eX-
perienced flock owner that "an ounce
of prevention is far better than a
why any flock owner should encount-
err digestive trouble in his flock if
proper provision forethought is ex-
ercised to have on hand some kind of
succulent food to balance up the
daily ration. Feeding an exclusive
dry ration to sheep, and especially to
breeding ewes during the pregnant
period, is indeed a very poor practice
and one that invariably invites
trouble and serious loss. With sheep
perhaps more than any other live
stock, succulent food is Indispensable
and must be included in the daily ra-
tion in some form or other or the
foundation of digestive trouble is
permanently laid
One of the best succulent foods to
prevent attacks Of constipation
sheep is roots. Flock owners
who have no other means of supply
ing succulent food to their sheep
should endeavor to have on hand to
feed during the winter months plenty
of roots, either mangels or rutabagas.
Where ensilage is valuable it will be
found very helpful and can be fed to
breeding ewes during the pregnant
period with entire safety in limited
i have fed ensilage to
breeding ewes for several years and
find it one of the best succulent foods
that can be produced upon the farm.
Where neither roots or ensilage
are at hand there is but one outlet
for the flock owner, and that is to al
low the flock access to a meadow du
ring every day of winter. When the
snow is not too deep the flock will be
able to secure a limited amount Of
somewhat succulent food in this way,
but | consider it poor sheep manage
ment to compel sheep to roam the
fields in search of such food.
Shiawassee Co. Leo. G.. Reynolds.
Deafness Cannot Be Cused
.at. -