Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-10-31
WOOL and MEAT
ARE WAR NEEDS
Principal Sheep Requirements
Are Dryness, Good VentiIa-
ton, and Sunlight.
WET COATS FOSTER DISEASE
Protection From Winter RainfaIIs and
Heavy SnoWfaIIs Is Desirable
Freedom From Drafts Is Most
important.

Sheep supply two very essential war
needs-meaI and wool. During the
winter they need special care. Their
heavy coat will keep them warm pro-
vided it is dry, but if it becomes wet
the animals will suffer from chills and
sickness.
In any part of the United States the
main essentials of sheep barns are dry
ness and freedom from drafts. I'm
less lambs are to be dropped in cold
weather, no expense to provide warmth
is necessary, as the buildings should
seldom be closed. Protection from
winter rains and heavy snOwfalls is
desirable, but the best results may be
expected when ewes are allowed ac-
cess to a dry bed in the open.
Warmth, Dryness and Light.
Since sheep do not require quarters
that are especially warm, single wall
will ordinarily insure sufficient
warmth. If lambs are dropped in very
cold weather, temporary covering
over the lambing panels will provide
warmth, or small space can be par
titiOned off in which to keep a few
ewes until their lambs become strong.
Even in winter it is we'll to plan
ahead, and to keep in mind that next
summer shade and protection from
heat are peculiarly necessary for
sheep. Shade cannot always be fur
nished in pastures, and buildings that
are well located and constructed so -,
to render them cool in summer will
often provide greater comfort to the
sheep during hot days than would be
possible for them out of doors.
Dryness and freedom from draft are
most important. Sheep cannot pos
Sibly thrive in quarters that are damp
or dark. In fact, the flock should be
shut in only during storms. Alum
dance of light in all parts of the build
ing and at all times is necessary not
only for the health of the sheep but
for convenience of the shepherds in
caring for them. One square foot of
window for each 20 square feet of floor
space is necessary. Windows should
distribution of light, and particularly
to receive direct sunlight for the lamb
ing pens during the period the ewes
are lambing.
Ventilation Is Essential.
Close confinement in poorly venti-
lated pens is very injurious to breed
ing ewes. While they should seldom
be shut indoors, n part of the flock will
usually lie inside at night. At lamb
ing and during storms, doors should
be closed. For such times it is neces-
sary to provide means of securing
fresh air without creating drafts. In
a very large building with numerous
doors and windows it is often advis-
able to build one or two partitions
from floor to ceiling to prevent drafts.
Fresh air can be admitted through
muSlin-screened windows opened on
the side opposite to that from which
the wind is blowing without causing
drafts if all other sides of the build
ings are tightly closed.
In very cold sections, or where lambs
are to arrive in the winter months.
specially arranged outlets for foul air
and inlets for fresh air will be neces-
Sary. FOul-air f1ues should extend
from the ceiling with as few bends as
possible to the roof. They should be
Of sufficient size and number to give
s to 10 square inches for each sheep
in the building. Fresh air may be adj
mitted through arranged inlets near
the floor line. Some attention is re-
Quired To adjust such inlets to the va
riations IN wind and temperature, and
the same is true where windows are