Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-02
WINTER, MANAGEMENT .,..- <
 OF THE SHEEP FLOCK
Buildings and Yards and Winter Feed .Ass ing Are Important. < $

-f 4, t., f tffst4 s& s.4 E Winter management has very inn portant relation to the returns from
 the flock. It is not absolutely. neces- sary that sheep should be. housed in expensive buildings, The main essen tiais, of sheep barns are that they be dry and free from drafts, yet have
 plenty of good ventilation. Unless lambs are to be droppeda in. cold weather, no expense-to provide Warnt tn is necessary, as the fleece affords sufficient warmth while it is dry. If the quarters are airy and comfortable, the sheep will resort. to -titcsns when
 necessary. In the house about 12 to
 r5 square feet of floor space is neces- sary for an average sized eve. Good yard accommodation in | which the sheep can keep on dry footing and have plenty Of room for exercise is
 also very important Sheep should not be allowed ito lie, on. a damp floor nor
 should they. be exposed to indictment
 weather such as cold rains or wet soft
 snowsfornls. ss.., ,---5,. s.5 3Is ~5<, l If ewes go into winter quarters in
 good condition, ', they may be carried
 over through the early part of the winter with little or no grain. Whe re
 possible it is. best to separate the flock 1 into three classes. t> The |. eve lambs Ikept for breeding purposes should l,e fed more literally than the older ewes
 The aged and thin ewes. should Joe
 separated and given a little extra feed
 In this way the stronger ewes may. be kept separate and each flock may get
 the proper amount of, feed necessary.
 Red clover or alfalfa make the best lroughages for sheep during the win ter. Corn fodder can be used but il must be well cured. Corn. silage il we'll matured and free from mould
 makes an excellent succulent food, and can be used to good advantage. HVher Iewes are fed clover or alfalfa as 1T
 combination with .silage or. roots sucf as .n1angels, sugar beets or turnips very little or no grain need be fed sun- ltil just before ,larnbing tine.. Abou
 Tone month before. lambing time tht |ewes should be fed a mixture consist. l ing of one and one-ha1f parts oats ant | one part bran. The oats strengthen the ewes and the bran is larative, ant iserves, to keep the digestive organs ii
 good working order. All fat producing
 grains. such as corn. barley. rye. oil
 meal and cottenseed meal cannot b,
 recommended to be extensively fed tt I pregnant ewes. The amount to feet depends on the size and condition 0 the eve. About one-hah pound of tn ;I SralQ mlAture, IS SuIucLenL IoE lb9 , dium sized eve. This may he in creased as the lambing season :, ap
 proaches' if it is necessary to inprov
 the condition of the flock. ' {,
 The breeding flock should have ac
 cess to water at all times, especially this true after they have lanbed Sal should also be within their reach. I they have access to it at all. time they will never eat too, much, but ) withheld from them for q; time the, l, may possibly. eat too much when it i
 again given to them. <. Bulletins and further information ol the sheep industry may be secured b writing to A. G.. Skinner, sheep spe ! cialist, Storrs, Conn.-A c. Skinner z Connecticut Agricultural College.