The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-09-20
FEEDING WESTERN
LAMBS A CARE
Great Care Necessary in Starting Of
Grain Ration-Two Per Gent
Loss on Rangers.
PAPER is BY ALBERT WEISS
Good Protection From Winds As Well
As Dry Sheds Absolutely Neees-
sary-FIeece to be Kept Dry

Below We print an article which ap-
peared in the Iowa Agriculturist, a
periodical which is gotten out at
Ames, Iowa, in regard to feeding
western lambs This will be OF in
terest to readers of the Review, and
probably more so because it is writ
ten by Denison boy, Mr.. Albert
Weiss, who is graduate OF Ames col
]ege, and who is now teaching in the
schools at Granite Falls, MINI. The
following is the article:
In the early fall when the grass be,
comes scarce upon the western ranges
the marketward movement OF range
bred lambs is heavy. The big central
markets begin to show heavy daily
receipts OF what are termed feeder
lambs" This is the time for the farm
er interested in sheep feeding to get
busy and either visit one OF these
markets and select his feeders himself
or place an order with reliable COM
mission firm. If he does the latter
he should emphasize the fact that only
good, healthy individuals are wanted
as there is too much risk in handling
the thin, weak ones.
Buying should be done as early as
possible, although the condition Of the
market will have much to do with the
time, as advantages should be taken
of the lowered prices resulting from
heavy runs. Before the grasses be-
come too mature good gains will be
made on what would otherwise be a
waste. Turned into the corn fields
while the leaves are yet somewhat
green, the lambs will feed upon the
lower leaves and upon the weeds, fox
tail and other grasses that may be in
the field. Rape sown in the corn at
the time of the last cultivation makes
an ideal pasture for starting lambs
on feed, but as a good crop of rape
is very hard to grow in good field
of corn it will be found more profit
able to have a few acres sown for this
special purpose. Care must be TAX
en-, however in starting the youngsters
in on rape and it must be done grad
ually, never allowing them to fill up
on it until all danger of bloating is
past.
Shelter from rains should be pro-
yided, for dry feeces and dry sleep
ing quarters are among the most es-
sential things that make for success
in lamb feeding. Along with this
goes good clean drinking water, for
although a lamb does not drink large
amount, he is very particular as to the
quality Salt must be fed, but not In
large amounts.
Great care is necessary in starting
the flock upon the grain ration, or q
heavy loss will result. In the handling
of rangers" the feeder must count
upon at least per cent loss. The
first day less than quarter of pound
of grain per head should be allowed,
this ration being gradually increased
until the animals are on full feed. Be
sure that they clean up all the grain
before the next feeding time and feed
twice daily. A lamb on full feed will
eat as much as two or three pounds
of corn or other grain daily besides the
rouehage, which ought to be of the
very best quality of clover or alfalfa
hay, alfalfa preferred. Often an entire
flock is spoiled By being oyerfed. for
once CT feed sheep are very hard to