Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1921-11-30
DURING WINTER SHEEP
NEED GOOD FOOO
AND EXERCISE

Principally interested III tall and VIII
ter feeding and maintenance The
shepherd should train himself to read
the condition OF his sheep by feeling
the bone OF the loin or back. At no
time while they are i'll lamb should
ewes to be allowed to lose weight In
open. wet fall seasons there is danger
of waiting too long to start feeding
says the United States Department of
Agriculture.
Legu,ninous Hay is Best Feed
Winter management is very import
ant in its effect upon the returns from
the flock. Legumious hays, straws
and corn stalks usually form the main
part of economical winter rations.
Clover, alfalfa or cow-pea hay. ii Of
good quality, may be used as the sole
feed until near lambing time. from ;
to 3 IL pounds daily being sufficient
for ewes weighing less than lSC
pounds Dat and wheat straw are
better than rye or barley straw. Corn
SldiNS I)idNSd WHCiC tilN NNNS Van tdt
Off the leaves may be used as d part
OF the roughagc ration. II this ration
is made up largely OF cornstalks or
straw, heterogeneous concentrate
should also be used. Timothy hay is
not good sheep feed.
Silage will reduce the cost of the
ration, but is best used with hay.
Feed only silage made from wel-ma-
tured corn, and be sure that it is not
spoiled. frozen or moldy. Three
pounds per head per day is the limit
Tor this feed. For breed ewes, roots,
particularly turnips. should be used
sparingiy until after lambing. The
two rations here given will be found
satisfactory Tor ewes from l20 to AS
pounds in weight:
Ration No. 1.-Two pounds alfalfa
or cowpea hay: two pounds corn silage
onc-half shelled corn.
Ration No 2.-Two-onc-half pounds
alfalfa hay; two pounds corn silage.
II the ewes run on fall wheat or rye
during the winter the pasture must be
supplemented by some dry or concen-
tratcd iced Silage and roots are not
desirable when the pasture is green.
One-half pound OF cottonsecd meal
contains the daily protein require
ment for pregnant ewes and ii should
be used when the price is right. How
ever, quarter pound along with
better than one containing a larger
amount OF cottonsecd meal.
Exercise for the eve i'll winter is
necessary if strong lambs are to be
produced. They can be induced to
take exercise by scattering their feed
over the ground which will induce
them to do a great deal OF walking.
Another way is to feed some distance
from the shelter Winscr pasture
will. of course. solve the problem OF
exercise. But the flock ought not to
be out in rain or wet snow. as a wet
fleece is frequent cause OF colds and
pneumonia. \ sheep will shake off dry
snow and be none the worse for hav-
ing been out i'll a storm.
Present conditions should be no dis
enlargement to person who thinks
of starting flock, Tor the man who
succeeds with livestock is the one who
goes in and stays III through fat years
and lean Perhaps it is better to go
in when prices are low, for then it
costs less for foundation stock.
IT is doubtful whether man should
start keeping sheep unless his farm
will allow the keeping of at, least 30
ewes, and in most cases 90 or more
will be handled better and more econ
omically than very small flock
Old ewes should be discarded at )
years of age. When this is done and
the poorest OF the eve lambs are sold
flock will ordinarily double in size
in three years.
In this country the sheep industry
has had frequent ups and downs, and
recently it has been very much de-
pressed, but it is an industry necessary
TO a well-baanced agriculture and II
pays fairly good returns when tlocks
are properly handled Wool is a
staple commodity and mutton is a
regular part of our diet, though it is
much less used than beef or pork.
Conditions in many parts OF the
United States are excellent for sheep
raising and there can be little doubt
that within relatively short time
the sheep will be more profitable than
during the present year.
1 Present conditions of depression are
abnormal, just as the period of pros
perity was abnormal There is a
surplus OF wool on hand in the coun-