174 INDIAN CORN CULTURE. 
the corn-fed ones, but this increased weight 
was chiefly due to increase in yolk. 
Pregnant ewes should not be fed a fattening 
food like corn. In fact corn is essentially a 
fattening food for sheep. If this end is not de- 
sired, then oats, bran, and oil-meal may be fed 
to better advantage, along with roots or silage. 
Writing some years ago* Mr. F. 1). Curtis, 
then a well known student of sheep husbandry, 
said: 
‘‘No argument can now convince me that corn is a good 
kind of grain to give sheep to make them grow well or fit 
them for the lambing season. A very little corn will do 
mixed with other grain. * * * Corn makes the sheep 
fevery, and this dries the wool, makes it brittle and checks 
its growth. It inflames the udders of the ewes and makes a 
big show of milk, whereas it is actually mere fever, inflam- 
mation and swelling. It makes the lambs weak and tends te 
cause the ewes to forsake them, or not to own them.” 
It is well to hear both sides of this question, 
but it is practically true that the grain of corn 
should not be fed pregnant animals of any 
class, sheep as well as others, especially to- 
ward parturition. Bran or oats are much bet- 
ter at this time. But for promoting the laying 
on of flesh corn is a superior feed. 
Corn-fodder and silage have not as a rule 
been largely fed sheep, but their use is becom- 
ing more and more common. Either one of 
these coarse foods may be fed sheep with sig- 
—— 
* Country Gentleman, Jan. 29, 1885. 
