454 MODERN FARRIER. 



60. Fattening Sheep. 



Sheep under this treatment should never be suf- 

 fered to have any sort of want of fresh food. They 

 should never be kept too long upon any inclosure or 

 grass-piece, or any other sort of keep, so as to be 

 compelled to feed upon the sullied or trampled food, 

 as it always greatly retards the fattening of the ani- 

 mals, or what is termed proof, which is constantly 

 the most promoted by the allowance of only the 

 prime fresh food. 



There are many different sorts of food made use 

 of in this business, such as the different sorts of tur- 

 nips, which are very extensively applied in this 

 system, and some use them alone ; but it is probably 

 a better practice to give some sort of dry food with 

 them, especially where the common turnip is em- 

 ployed, as it is more watery and less nutricient than 

 that of the Swedish kind. Cut hay, chaff, bran, 

 corn, oil-cake, all answer well in this intention ;'^ and 

 of the first two or three sorts the}^ should have a 

 pretty full supply ; but the latter, from their ex- 

 pence, should be more sparingly given ; several 

 pounds of oats, however, will be required for each 

 sheep per day, according to the kind and size. 



With oil-cake, some give half a cake a day to 

 each sheep ; but the quantity must depend in some 

 measure upon the other keep which they have. All 

 food of this sort should be given in moveable 

 troughs, divided in the middle, so that the sheep 

 may feed on each side, with a sloping roof over 

 them, so as to cover the sheep's heads and necks 

 while feeding, as wet is not only prejudicial to the 

 sheep, but spoils the cake. A rack for hay, fixed 

 over the trough, might probably be made to answer 

 in this intention ; while it would be very convenient 

 for holding that material, and preventing waste. 

 The whole sliould be fixed on wheels, and be made 



