TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 483 



Alfalfa is fully as good but is not raised very much east of the Missouri 

 river. Breeding ewes should be kept in good thriving condition but not 

 necessarily fat. They must have plenty of exercise so give them as much 

 range as possible. When winter has set in of course the flock must be 

 protected but do not shut them up in some small dark ill-ventilated and 

 poorly-bedded shed. A sheep shed should be large, the roof high, and in 

 some climates it is best to have the south side open. Unless you live in 

 the north where winters are severe the flock should be turned out every 

 day so they may have exercise. Scatter a few little bunches of corn fod- 

 der or hay on the side hill out of the wand and such practice will do the 

 flock no end of good. Keep the shed clean and well bedded with oat or 

 wheat straw. Remember that the ewes have their own bodies to keep up 

 as well as the unborn lambs and they must have bone and muscle produc- 

 ing food. Timothy hay and corn produce fat so they should not be used. 

 Clover hay, and pea straw are good rough material, while oats, bran, oil- 

 meal, etc., are the proper trough feeds. Oats and bran in equal parts with 

 about one-fifth the amount of crushed oil-cake is a most desirable mixture 

 but as lambing time draws near the amount of oilmeal could be slightly in- 

 creased. Properly fed ewes go through the lambing period in good form 

 and drop strong lambs. Just before lambing each ewe should be placed in 

 a small pen by herself and allowed to remain there until the Iambs are 

 two or three days old. 



MERITS OF SHEEP FORAGE AND FEEDS. 



CLOVEK HAY. 



Clover contains the greatest amount of feeding value when cut just as 

 the heads are in full bloom. When in good condition it furnishes a large 

 amount of protein and ash essential to thrift in the breeding flock. It 

 helps to fully develop lambs w'hich are to be retained as breeders because 

 it builds strong bone and a large framework; it gives proper nourishment 

 to the ewes carrying unborn lambs and gives more favorahle returns than 

 any other form of roughage to breeding sheep of all classes. Clover which 

 has been poorly cared for and weatherbeaten becomes very harsh and, in 

 addition to losing much of its feeding value, it is liable to cause stomach 

 trouble. Too much attention cannot be given to properly gathering it so 

 all the little leaves will be in fine condition. 



CORN FODDEB. 



To obtain the largest amount of nutriment in the crop, the seed should 

 be planted very thickly so the ears will not attain full size. The best 

 time to cut for fodder is when the kernels are just past the glazing stage. 

 If cut earlier the plant and ear would contain more water and less feed- 

 ing value. Much attention should be given at cutting time in order that 

 the stalks he placed erect and in very large shocks. This diminishes the 

 loss of leaves by the wind and the detriment done by rains. Then it will 

 be a valuable winter roughage for the flock, although the dry matter in 

 fodder does not give quite such exceptional results as when the plant has 

 been cut for silage, those breeders who do not have silos must not over- 

 look the importance of having some good fodder. 



