PROGRESSIVE SHEEP RAISING 



The Feeding of Sheep 



IT WILL be impossible to give a complete treatise on 

 feeding in this booklet, but we feel justified in includ- 

 ing some of the experiments and opinions of the best 

 feeders. 



Sheep respond readily to good treatment. They clean 

 up the weeds about the farm, and graze pastures and 

 ranches, closer than other animals. They thrive with very 

 little attention, but pay handsomely for the best care. 



Sheep that are raised on the large western ranges are 

 usually fed lightly and only in winter except when they are 

 being finished for market; in fact, it is not necessary to feed 

 them in grazing season except to keep them tame and under 

 control. They are primarily grazing animals and do 

 best when they have free range. 



The ewes should be flushed just 



Feeding Ewes before breeding time in order to secure 



the best results. If on the farm, they 



can care for twin lambs, and are more apt to drop twins 



if well fed prior to breeding. 



They do not need very high feeding during winter. 

 An abundance of forage, a half-pound of mixed grain 

 feeds, and two or three pounds of silage or root crops 

 daily per head will be sufficient. 



The most important part of the flock of sheep is the 

 breeding ewes, and if we once learn to care for these we 

 have solved most of the difficulties of the business. In 

 selecting feeds a formula should consist of some alfalfa 

 and other legume hay, such as clover, cow-peas or velvet 

 beans. 



Do not feed grain two or three days 

 At Lambing prior to, during and immediately after 

 Time lambing time. There is danger of milk 



fever. Legume hay or other dry rough- 

 age and silage or mangels can be fed with safety all through 



Page Twenty-Nine 



