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

Most of our readers are more or
less familiar with the giant proper
lions of the Shire, Clyde, Belgian or
Percheron horse. We have all seen
the Shetland pony. What makes
the great difference in size? Primar-
lily, food and climate. The large ami
mails represent an abundance OF
diversified food products, fed out
with a generous hand. The Shetland
pony is the resultant of sparse pas
lures and a cold and unfriendly eli
mate. Food, therefore, seems to ex-
ercise dominating influence on the
growth and development of horses.
1t will certainly exercise the same
sort of influence on any other class
of farm stock, and sheep are GER
tainly no exception to this rule. I'm
fortunately, many of our farmers
seem to think that this class of ami
mails can shift successfully for them
selves. AS result, many OF
our flocks have not done well. The
percentage of lambs has been too
small. The growth has been slow,
the maturity long-delayed. Hence, the
erroneous conclusion has been drawn
that sheep raising cannot be made
into a profitable business in the
southeastern states. This conclu-
sion of course is unfortunate, and
rests primarily on the fact that we
have not given that attention and
consideration to the subject of feed
ing the farm flock which its impor-
lance merits. An elucidation of this
proposition has been made in
mastery way in Bulletin 259, Geor-
gia State College of Agriculture. The
excerpt which follows covers the
main facts presented along this line
in the publication in question.
Sheep are more particular about
good, clean feed, feeding places and
water than any other kind of live
stock and respond readily to care
full attention. Musty feed has been
the cause of loses of many sheep.
Many farmers seem to be of the opin-
ion that sheep are very closely re-
lated to the goat in that they can
and will eat anything.
While it is true that sheep will
help to clean farm of weeds, this
should not be the sole diet, and,
while it is true that a sheep does
not eat near as much as a cow, it
takes feed to make mutton and wool.
4 starved sheep is an improbable
investment. And because of the
wool it looks much fatter than it
really is. An experienced sheep
man can detect an unthrifty condi
ton by the general appearance, car
y.age and actions of the sheep. 1t
advisable for the owner to press
rs hand down firmly on the backs of
Le ewes from time to time. If, the
,,....ll1one is readily felt, the sheep
ne not getting sufficient nourish
mt.
1t should be kept in mind that the
e has a triple use for her feed
he winter, to maintain the body
its functions, to develop a nice,
sky lamb and to grow wool. This
....es tissue building feeds, or in
+, words, protein feeds to greater
III than the fattening steer, and
axes decidedly more than just
Ugh to keep the eve alive.
\ considerable portion of the win
Z feed can be secured from the
Ids which have been in crops, but
are should be taken to avoid cookie
surs. However, too much reliance
should not be put in these dry fields
alone. Green, winter pasture crops
aould be planted. They should in
,ude wheat, rye or rape and SHOULD
y so planted that there will be con-
.nuous green grazing as much Of the
winter as possible. These mild win
ers which permit the growing of