Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-27
Sheep and Ensllage.

With tho relative high price OF feeding
stuffs and the low quotations for sheep
and lambs it - become serious ques'
ton with many whether 1t is wisdom to
retain even q small flock OF sheep. 1t is
still more of q problem to know what
action to take upon feeding out a bunch
Of lambs this winter.
The indications are now that mutton
will demand as good and even better
price next spring than it has in the past
from the fact that all meats are upward
iu price. With beef, pork and poultry
high and scarce, meat eaters are bound
to purchase something cheaper and as
wholesome. True, there is some preju.
dice against mutton, bnt better ways OF
preparation are being introduced. There
is little question that a few sheep on
the farms in the corn belt will be found
profitable assets. For the diversified
farmer sheep are like peas in an apple
barrel-they fill up the open spaces and
fill in 80 nicely that their presence ia
hardly noticed.
To derive the most out of sheep they
must be fed economically and with good
Judgment. In our experience corn en-
silage has been one Of the most economi-
cal feeds. Ensilage fed in connection
with alfalfa makes q balanced ration.
We have never had the quantity OF
alfalfa that we desired but have fed
large amounts of red clover. At diff
ferent times in the absence of these have
fed timothy hay, about the poorest
roughage obtainable, but have had moth.
ing else owing to abnormal weather con-
ditions.
Ensilage is fed up to lambing time
which begins about December 18Th.
The ensilags is then supplanted by oats.
Of course as fast as the ewes drop their
lambs they are separated from the gener-
eral flock and fed oats exclusively for
possibly q week, after which time they
are returned to the general flock and be-
gin eating ensilsge again.
There are several long, narrow troughs
in the sheep stable and in these the ensi-
lage is placed. 1t seems some sheep rel
sh eusilage more than others, hence
some individuals will eat more than
others; but in some four years expert
ence we have never had any trouble
whatsoever.
Great precaution must % takou III
feeding ensilage to sheep. Our ensilage
is quite ripe and when feeding 1t to
sheep it is taken from near the center of
the silo that no moldy or spoiled feed
will be given them. Precaution Is exer-
cised in shoveling up ensilsge and if any
suspicious particles are discovered they
are thrown out. No frozen ensilage is
ever permitted in the sleeps ration.
This is almost sure to cause trouble with
the sleeps digestion. The only trouble
we have ountered in feeding ensilage
to sheep is impaction. We think, how
ever, the trouble was that the sheep
were not amply supplied with water.
When case of impaction is discovered
they are given attention at once and for
years We have not lost sheep from this
trouble.
We heartily believe the sheep man or
the man who will stay by sheep during
this depression and feed them ensilage
and alfalfa or clover hay can't help but
make money. The pendulum never
swings 80 far in one direction but that il
will return. The price of sheep is
bound to be upward. All that is needed
is to stay by them.