LIVE STOCK BREEDERS. 193 



course I know how to give, but I cannot possibly give instruction in stock 

 iudeing unless we have the best animals that can be had, and it is time 

 that Missouri is having them. 



Resolution unanimousl}' adopted as read by Mr. Gabbert. 



THRIFT THE GREAT ESSENTIAL IN SHEER FEEDING. 

 (By Jacob Ziegler, Clinton, 111.) 



In sheep husbandry there is one thing that must be observed and 

 not overlooked, and that is thrift. Thrift means health, gain in quality, 

 quantity and productiveness, hence profit, and profit is what we are 

 after. It should always be the object of the flock master to keep his 

 sheep in a thriving condition. The quality of the wool as well as its 

 quantity and the general productiveness of the flock demand this sys- 

 tem. Now the question is, what are the essentials of thrift? I say 

 good feed, water, shelter and close attention of the shepherd. It is the 

 worst possible practice to allow the sheep to fall away in flesh as the 

 grass fails in the autumn. The increasing wool conceals the shrinking 

 carcass much to the disappointment of the careless flock master. Bet- 

 ter confine them in the yard than to allow them to ramble about in some 

 field in search of food, which furnishes a little green feed but too light 

 to be of any real value. 



For winter fodder there is nothing better than fine early cut clover ; 

 cut when in bloom and well cured. Hay from old meadows consisting 

 of a variety of grasses is very good. Sowed or thickly drilled corn for 

 fodder, cut and well shocked in good season, is also splendid feed. 

 Good corn stover is a good and cheap feed. A feed of bright oat straw- 

 two or three times a week can be fed to a good advantage, and the 

 leaving of the straw and stalks makes a splendid yard and a good ab- 

 sorbent of the manure. Bright sheaf oats fed once or twice a week in 

 racks is also an excellent feed. It answers for both grain and fodder. 



Fresh water is very important to have in the yard. It is a mis- 

 taken idea that sheep do not need water. In August and September of 

 1894 I had 150 ewes with that many lambs in a pasture, and they drank 

 a trough of water every day that held 210 gallons, nearly V/z gallons 

 average per ewe. They can, however, go longer and do better without 

 water than other stock, but thrive much better with it. 



Shelter is very necessary. It is the first necessity in providing for 

 wintering sheep successfully in northern latitude. Fine wool sheep 

 will bear exposure better than any other kind of sheep. For the open 



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