SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII. 589^ 



cheep on different pastures frequently, as this in one of the best remedies 

 as well as a preventative of parasites or stomach worms, the greatest 

 hindrance to successful sheep raising in Iowa I have found that clover 

 with a small quantity of rape seed sowed in small grain in the spring 

 makes an excellent fall pasture. Rape sowed in the corn at last plowing 

 also makes a good late fall pasture and if the corn is not down 

 •makes a good place to turn the lambs at weaning time. Another 

 important matter which is often neglected is the dipping of sheep. Dip- 

 ping prevents ticks, scab and other skin diseases. This usually should bt? 

 done after shearing. Be careful to select some good standard dip as 

 there are spurious dips on the market and where used the results have- 

 been disappointing. • 



Each fall the old and unprofitable ewes should be culled out and the 

 choice ewe lambs should be selected to keep up or increase the hock. The 

 cull ewes and remainder of the lambs, if thej' are a mutton breed, can 

 be fed for winter or spring market. A word to the new beginner at 

 feeding may not be amiss. Commence feeding grain sparingly and grad- 

 ually increase, but at no time feed more than they will cl'ean up in a 

 reasonable time. 



Give them all the roughness they will eat. Clover hay and corn 

 fodder is the best we raise here. Don't feed much timothy hay, my 

 experience is that good oat straw is better. Give them access to salt and 

 pure, clean water. This is important. Sheep will not drink out of a 

 filthy tank or trough. Provide a shelter of some kind; a shed open to the 

 south is suflicient. When your sheep are ready for the market it is- 

 usually best to sell them; as it seldom pays to hold fat sheep long for an. 

 advance in price. 



HOW CAN SHEEP BE MANAGED FOR THE BEST RESULTS? 



Willis Pettit, before Mahaska County Farmers" Institute. 



This is a very big subject for me to undertake to tell this audience^ 

 Low to manage. 



I handle sheep in a small way and am only reasonably successful. 



Keeping from seventy-five to one hundred as a breeding flock,I mate- 

 them so as to have the lambs commence coming the last days of March. 

 I think it better to have them come rather early so they will be large 

 and strong before the hot weather comes on; as that is when the stomach 

 worm gets in its work. The bigger and stronger the lamb is, the better 

 it can resist the ravages of the worms, as they, with the dog and tariff 

 reform, are the greatest drawbacks the sheep man has to contend with. 



I keep the Shropshire breed, as I think in small flocks they are the- 

 most profitable.' Wool and mutton combined I get from 8 lbs. to 9 lbs. 



