Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-20
GROW FARM FEED FOR SHEEP
Fine Profit in Animals Fattened
on Good Pasture and Odds
and Ends of Grain
BY w. NJ. KErI,r..

Ihat the sheep is the best adapted at
any of our farm animals to consume
our home grown foods with mini
mum amount of purchased grain is
certain, and during the past few years
many of our farmers are finding good
profits in feeding lambs that are pur-
chased in the markets as unfinished
material, and by feeding them finish
them until they are ready for sale.
They thus make good profit not
only on the original cost of the lambs,
but also upon the cost of the food that
is used for feeding Them which of
course it mostly home grown.
In addition to this they get a very
satisfactory return in the manure and
have the benefit of the home market
for the disposal of the inferior and UNI
salable animals.
This is no new business, but it is
comparatively new in the east, though
in many sections of Michigan and Ohio
many farmers have been following the
business for a number of years.
In the sections where this business
is most successfully carried on the COM
mon practice is to buy the feeders
early. The chief advantages of obtain
| ing the lambs early is the fact that
| they may utilize the odds and ends OF
the fodder and pasture during the fall
| and gradually get accustomed to their
changed environments before cold
weather comes and they are placed in
| winter quarters and put on full RAJ
| ton of grain.
! Lambs that are fed for few weeks
| on pasture, forage and the odds and
ends of the home grown feeds, with a
| small Ia
better and are more profitable feeders
than those that are placed directly in
the feed lot from the car and fed full
| grain ration from the beginning
The growth thus obtained is the
| cheapest that can be put on the lambs
and is big factor in the matter of
| profits when they are sold for market.
| When handled in this manner they
are in condition to better utilize the
| grain foods and will derive the max
| imum benefit from all they consume
Lambs that are being fattened will
/ thrive better If they are divided into
/ small focis of from twenty to forty in
| a bunch and the sheds and racks di-
vided so that they have plenty of feed
room without crowding the weaker and
less hearty ones away from their food.
The modern practice of introducing
| running water into the yard or shed is
Of the highest utility.
/ They drink when their appetite Graves
and without excess, which is often in
furious when they have been long re-
strained, and they escape the exposure
and accidents from falling on the ice
and WalloWing in the snow when COM
PEELED to walk long distances for water
Animals that are being fattened
should not be allowed to have too much
exercise.
The best sheep sheds are those that
are inclosed from the top down to
within about four feet of the ground
the whole length of the one side of the
building.
Great Judgment is required in the
proper and economical feeding of sheep.
They are remarkably cleanly and fas-
tidious in their habits and will not eat
fodder that has become dry or tram
pied upon until 1t has become stale.
They should be fed abundantly, but
not more at one time than they will
readily consume. II any fodder re-
mains 1t may be gathered up and fed
} to other stock.
When it is allowed to gather and ac-
cumulate In their feed racks or floor
and fresh hay is placed upon it they
. are quite apt to leave the whole and
feed with less relish.
Freedom to walk around is necessary
with sheep; though their pens are
| small the sheep, unlike any of the
other farm animals, will not thrive
when closely confined.