104 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



A man toda}- to be an economical sheep feeder must understand the 

 habits and characteristics of the sheep. He must be an observing man, 

 quick to perceive any slight change that may take place. For instance, 

 before I left home the first time my lambs were doing very nicely on the 

 ration I had prepared for them, but during my absence the men hauled 

 in some bean pods that were not half thrashed and the feeder gave the 

 sheep the same amount of culled beans as he did when feeding the straw 

 that was thrashed clean. The result was when I got home nearly one- 

 half the lambs were scouring and the man had not noticed anything 

 wrong, when a blind man, if observing, could have noticed something 

 wrong on opening the door in the morning by the ^cent in the barn. In 

 the next place he must have 



A SUITABLE BUILDING. 



I do not mean by this that they have got to be elaborate, but they must 

 be so constructed as to be dry, light and well ventilated. They should 

 be so arranged as to be entirely under his control as far as temperature is 

 concerned. Sudden changes are very detrimental to the health of sheep» 

 as they are more susceptible to colds than any other kind of stock. He 

 should have them arranged to be convenient as possible about feeding, 

 so it will not be necessary to employ extra labor in caring for them. As 

 a rule the more conveniently they are arranged the better care they will 

 receive. 



I once had a friend come to visit me who was a sheep feedei'. He took out 

 his watch and timed myself and man to see how long it took to feed 700 

 lambs. He said we fed them in just 18 minutes, sweeping the rack and 

 feeding them their ensilage and grain, yet there was no hard work about 

 it. 



METHODS OF FEEDING. 



The ensilage is wheeled in a cart on the tloor directly over the racks, 

 and dropped in holes through the floor made for the purpose. The grain 

 is in granary on second floor, and draws direct to the grain car which 

 hangs on track the same as barn doors run on. This car runs the whole 

 length of the alley which is in center of barn with racks on both sides. 

 The end of the alley is open so we walk into it to spread the ensilage- 

 put in what other kindof gfain we are feeding. Sheep to be economically 

 fed must have 



A VARIETY OF FEEDS. 



We feed ensilage, corn, and middlings in the morning; straw, hay or 

 bean pods at noon, and with a few cull beans; the ensilage, with middlings 

 and corn at night. Sheep should always have a sufficient supply of good, 

 pure, clean water, so they can get at it without much trouble. Sheep 

 require as much water as any other kind of stock, and they want it often. 

 Sheep should have a supply of good clean salt before them so they can get 

 it at will, as they are-better judges when they need salt than we are. and 

 if kept constantly before them they will not eat to excess. 



