694 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



sheep without them. Mixed hay and corn stover are good feeds. Corn 

 silage is a good feed, especially toward spring as its succulence helps to 

 maintain the milk flow. Sour silage must be strictly avoided, however. 

 As to the concentrates to be fed, much depends on the price. Home 

 grown feeds can supply most, if not all, of this part of the ration. When 

 clover or alfalfa is fed, just enough corn in connection with it to keep 

 the flock in good condition makes a good practical ration. If some other 

 roughage is used, the addition of oil meal is quite generally advised. 

 Here, as elsewhere, it is found that variety adds to the efficiency of the 

 ration. 



Strange as it may seem, not all farmers appreciate the importance of 

 water for sheep in the winter. There is a prevalent idea that a sheep 

 needs no water except that which may be obtained from snow. This is 

 entirely erroneous, and cruel to the sheep as well. When a flock main- 

 tained under such conditions is given access to water, they drink very 

 greedily. If the flock does not have constant access to pure water, they 

 should be watered once or twice daily. Sheep are very dainty animals, 

 and rather than drink foul water, they will go thirsty. 



The lambs should begin coming by the middle of February in this 

 latitude, provided the proper accommodations are available. By early 

 lambing a crop of lambs is secured for the high markets of June and 

 July. Of course it would be foolish for the farmer with scanty housing 

 to attempt to raise February lambs, for then he would only be inviting 

 failure. 



As lambing time approaches, the sheep should be carefully watched. 

 The shepherd should be on hand an hour or two to see that the little 

 fellow is all right, and the milk has started. A few minutes' time at 

 the proper point may be the saving of the lamb. If the ewe shows the 

 least disinclination to own her lamb she should be put in a small pen 

 with it for several days. By that time she will be all right. Twins are 

 also best handled in the same way. It is well to divide the flock at 

 this time by putting the ewes with the lambs in one bunch and the others 

 in another. This prevents crowding and confusion and gives the lambs 

 a better chance. 



The lamb will be all right by the time it is two days old, if cared for 

 up to that time, and will need but little additional attention. However, 

 the old sow and the neighbor's dog, both of whom are fond of young 

 lamb, should be ostracized from the yard and the pasture. When a few 

 weeks old, the lambs should be given some grain in a creep. Bran and 

 oats are commonly used at first, but soon may be replaced partly, and 

 later entirely, by shelled corn. This aids materially in preparing the 

 lambs for an early market. 



