586 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



win. It stirs them to more rapid improvements and to come better fitted 

 next season. 



Anyone founding a floclv and caring for them as outlined in this article 

 will find a ready sale for his surplus stock at good figures. 



But start a good flock of ewes, and give plenty of good feed, shelter 

 and advertising and you will enjoy the sheep business as long as you live, 

 and then your boys and girls will gladly succeed you. 



FEEDING THE EWE FLOCK AT MATING TIME. 



''The Ruralist." 



Now is a time when the breeding flock should be receiving good care 

 and feed, while ofttimes it is the case that they are most neglected. The 

 flock is just let run on the same pasture that they have been on all 

 summer. Such a method would err quite a ways from the best. The 

 flock at this time of the year should be on a new patch of clover or some- 

 thing that way. The ewes should be gaining in flesh at the time of theic 

 mating with the ram, in order that they may have the correct beginning 

 for raising a good strong lot of lambs the coming spring. It will always 

 be noted that ewes which have had good feed will rear a larger number 

 of stronger lambs than the poorly fed ones. Besides the run of good 

 clover, it is well to give a small allowance of oats. Cut pumpkins up fine 

 and cover them well with oats and you have a most excellent fall feed 

 for sheep in connection with their pasture. When given such feed the 

 ewes will get nice and smooth and plump, thereby pleasing the eye and 

 pocketbook of any good shepherd. Ewes should be kept in strong condi- 

 tion all the year around, because the lamb is draining their systems to 

 a certain degree at all times. Some breeders have the idea that breeding 

 ewes should be thin, some exceptionally thin, in order that they may 

 raise the best lambs. Yet it has been demonstrated time and time again 

 that the best feeders are the most successful in live stock circles. The 

 breeder who doesn't feed his ewes well will wonder why his ewes did not 

 drop a large number of twins, or why his ewes do not give a liberal flow 

 of milk for the little lambs, while the good feeder and careful shepherd 

 will be rejoicing over his large number of lambs and how strong th? y 

 are and how they start right to growing. The sheep breeder has his 

 choice of the above two circumstances and now is the time to commence 

 for results. Feed the ewes well in the fall and get them well prepared 

 for winter, and then when winter comes keep them right on going by 

 feeding clover, fodder, oats and bran and whatever other strength-giving 

 foods that are at hand, but it is always well to avoid feeding much corn 

 to breeding sheep. Many of the best shepherds are careful to remove a 

 majority of the corn from fodder given the flock. Corn tends to fatten, 

 and it is not fat that is desired. The aim should be to keep the flock 

 in perfect bloom, strong and full of vigor at all times. The good and 

 judicious feeder always has a good demand for his surplus stock at good 

 prices and most certainly receives good pay for his work and feed 

 expended. There is a large reward awaiting the man who will produce 



