5o8 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Aug., 1909. 



MANGOLDS AS FEED FOR SHEEP. 



H . TF. Ham, Sheep Expert. 



A correspondent asks " Why, in view of mangolds being so prolific 

 and easily grown, they are not more used for sheep feed ? " Most farmers 

 find it necessary to raise lambs and mutton on such feed and in such a 

 way as will give the best results for the least amount of time, labour and 

 cash expended. Generally, the most suitable crops are found to be those 

 into which sheep can be turned and allowed to feed themselves, no atten- 

 tion, other than occasional cleaning and turning off in very wet weather, 

 being necessary. Fodder crops which can be put in with ordinary farm 

 machinery, and on a fairly large scale, are best suited to the majority of 

 farmers. Those crops which can be fed off, and will leave the land 

 in better condition and ready for ploughing and early sowing are especially 

 suitable. Still, there are very good patches which can be profitably used 

 for mangold crops, and mangolds certainly yield a great weight per acre. 



Afangolds alone are not particularly fattening, but when fed in con- 

 junction with short oaten h,ay or oats, sheep, particularly the British 

 breeds, do remarkably well. In the latter case, economical troughs and 

 racks are necessary to prevent waste, and by this system aged, coarse 

 crossbred ewes are fattened at the same time with their lambs. Mangolds 

 are more suitable for feeding to dairy cows in late spring and autumn. 



To get the best yield per acre from mangolds they must be sown in 

 drills, thinned out, and worked between. This means, at times, hiring 

 labour. Although heavy grain crops can be grown afterwards, the labour 

 which has to be bestowed on mangold cultivation does not admit of any 

 moderate sized area being available to sow for grain the following ,autumr. 

 Mangolds need a strong .soil, otherwise a liberal application of farmyard 

 manure is necessary. Sheep cannot be turned in on mangolds and fed 

 economically. They eat the crown out and the rain and dew cause decay. 

 Hurdling off is necessary to make the most of them. This plan entails 

 labour and attention, apart from the cost of the hurdles and maintenance. 

 When the mangolds are eaten to the level of the ground they should be 

 turned out with a fork. If forced to clean up deep rooting mangolds, 

 sheep eat too much dirt to thrive well. The best mangolds for sheep are 

 the Golden Monarch, Yellow Globe, and other varieties which grow on the 

 surface of the ground. The sheep then get all without the farmer having 

 the labour of turning them out. 



Before mangolds are fed to sheep they should be out of the ground 

 a few days and allowed to soften — a crushing with the heel of the boot 

 will ther suffice. The sheep, even if they are " gummies," will then eat 

 them. There is no need for a slicing machine. No injurious effects have 

 resulted from feeding mangolds to ewes and lambs under natural conditions, 

 but only a quantity sufificient for each dav should be given. Mangolds which 

 have been lying open to the frost and rain will, at times, bring about 

 stoppage of water in wethers, and especially stall-fed merino rams if not 

 allowed full exercise. 



.Sugar beet is very fattening, but tough, and cannot be eaten easily. 

 If sliced, it goes black in a few hours, and, in that condition, is not 

 readily eaten bv sheep. Sugar beet is more suitable for pigs than for 

 sheep. 



