Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-06

SrdZlIlS crops luIOuSh lAO Clitli 2
years are an asset that should be
used to the limit. No feed is as cheap
as that which the animal harvests
itself.
An ideal winter pasture would be a
combination of a cornfield in velvet
or soy beans to furnish the dry
roughage and some green oats,
wheat, rye or rape. 1t is often very
convenient for the sheep to have
access to both a. the same time.
A pregnant eve should be gain
ing in flesh up to the time that she
is ready to drop the lamb since she
,cses Is to 25 pounds in weight at
Landing time. To do this, it is often
necessary to feed the eve Il small
grain ration in addition to the pas
turage.
The following rations for pregnant
ewes have been used by practical
sheep men with good results:
Ration
Oats, parts,
Corn, parts,
Bran. parts,
Cottonseed meal, 1 part.
One pound of this mixture to be
fed daily the last month before lamb
ing time while on green pasture and
in fields.
Ration
Oats, 4 parts,
Corn, parts,
Cottonseed meal, 1 part.
One pound daily while on pasture
month before lambing.
Ration 8
Oats, , parts,
Corn, part, and of this mixture
pound.
Alfalfa, 2 pounds.
When pasture is low and ewes
thin, good complete feed. Daily
gain to be expected, 80.
Cowpea hay, soy bean hay or vel
vet bean hay can be substituted for
alfalfa in the above ration with good
results.
Ration
Cottonseed heam, IA pound,
Corn silage. pounds,
Pea vine hay or soy bean hay, 2
pounds.
Salt should be kept before the
sheep at all times as we'll as clean,
fresh water.
Silage' is a good succulent winter
feed for the sheep, but the construc-
ton of silo for flock smaller than
100 head is not practical.
'Silage must be fed with greater
care to sheep than to any other
classes of livestock. Moldy or frozen
silage is very detrimental, and it is
reported that sour silage will cause
collie and scours. This is easily pre-
vented by letting the silage crop
mature before ensilaging it. Sheep
NAV be fed as much as two pounds
of silage without harm. Too much
succulent feed, it is claimed by
shepherds, make soft f1abby lambs.
A dry roughage should be fed with
silage. Straw does not serve this
purpose as we'll as some legume
hay.
Cottonseed meal should be fed
with care as it is a highly concen-
trated feed, and sheep are very sus-
ceptible to sudden changes in feed.
There is less danger in overlooking
with cottonsced meal when fed in
conjunction with silage or other sue
culent feed than when with a dry
roughage. One-eighth to one-fourth
of a pound per day is ample. Never
more than one-half pound should be
fed per day.
Cotton seed is not as good a feed
for sheep as cottonseed meal. The
oil in the seed has but little food
value, and has a laxative effect when
fed in too great quantities. Moldy
or heated seed should never be fed.
Corn in the south, as a rule, is
too expensive to feed TO livestock.
However, it is a most splendid feed
when mixed with oats and bran.
When fed alone it is too heating
and fattening.
Oats, when mixed with other
feeds, are ideal for sheep, and par
ticularly so for lambs. The high
price is often the limiting factor.
Z Rape should comprise the winter
pasture for sheep to a much larger
degree. It is very high in protein,
and is palatable. 1t may be pastured
from the middle of January to the
middle of May, depending upon the
seasons, Dwarf Essex is the best
variety to plant. It should be plant
ed on fairly rich soil where there is
an abundance of water. The best re,
suits will be obtained in pasturing
rape if it is allowed to attain a height
of six to eight inches. Sheep should
be accustomed to grazing of rape by
degrees. 1t should not be pastured
when wet or frozen, as it has a ten.
dency to cause bloat and poisoning.
Soybeans and cowpeas also make a
splendid pasture.
The only shelter necessary for
sheep in this section is that which
I'LL I-ao,, 4,.o,.. 5.,r 49,. 1,oad 100