366 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



D. SHEEP. 



THRIFT THE GREAT ESSENTIAL IN SHEEP FEEDING. 



Jacol) ZeigJer, Clinton. III., in Bulletin Missouri i<tate Board of 



Agriculture. 



In sheep husbandry there is one thing that mnst 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 system.. Now the question is, what are the esentials 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 carelessi flock 

 master. Better 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 oats 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 absorbent of the manure. Bright sheaf oats fed once 

 or twice a week in racks is also an excellent feed. It answers for 

 l)()lh 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 one 

 and one half 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 

 fleece of the large m.utton breeds parts on the back when wet and ad- 

 mits the water, which completely drenches the animal, so that its 

 abundant fleece is no longer a protection from the cold. Economy in 

 feeding also demands shelter, as not only less feed is required but is 

 better preserved from waste. For they will not eat or drink that 

 which is in any waj' soiled or out of a dirty trough unless forced to. 



