522 Feeds and Feeding. 



799. Quarters for fattening. Fattening sheep should be pro- 

 tected from wet coats and feet at all times. Ideal quarters in the 

 Northern states are a dry, littered yard, with a sunny exposure, 

 provided with a well-bedded, comfortable shed extending along 

 the windward side to break the cold winds and driving storms. In 

 such quarters the air is bracing, the sunshine invigorating, and, 

 covered with a heavy coat and filled with rich grain, the animals 

 are warm and comfortable, and comfort is essential to the highest 

 gains. If confined in barns warm enough for dairy cows, sheep 

 sweat badly in winter. Stone basements are not satisfactory 

 places for fattening sheep; if used, ample ventilation must be 

 provided. Damp walls are a sure indication of lack of ventila- 

 tion and impending trouble. 



800. Feed racks. Grain and roughage should be fed sepa- 

 rately. Backs for roughage in the yards should be large, so that 

 a considerable quantity of hay may be deposited in them, thus 

 making that part of the feeding simple. If sheep are fed in closed 

 quarters, the hay should be supplied daily, since they dislike feed 

 that has been " blown upon/ 7 as shepherds say. Grain troughs 

 should have a wide, flat bottom, thus forcing the sheep to con- 

 sume the grain slowly, rather than bolt it by mouthfuls. Not 

 less than fifteen inches of linear trough space should be provided 

 for each animal fed. There is no need of incurring heavy ex- 

 pense in arranging yards, sheds, racks and troughs unless the 

 improvements are to be permanent. 



801. Corn. Corn is the best single grain for lambs, causing 

 them to put on fat rapidly and not forcing growth, as is the case 

 with some other concentrates. It is shown elsewhere (757) that 

 about 500 pounds of corn and 400 pounds of clover hay may be 

 regarded as the standard allowance for producing 100 pounds of 

 gain with lambs where all conditions are favorable. From this 

 data the feeder can readily calculate the cost and possible profits 

 of fattening lambs. 



802. Wheat. Trials show that wheat is not as valuable as corn 

 for fattening sheep, being worth about ten per cent. less. At the 

 Colorado Station, Cooke observed that lambs fed on wheat grew 

 in frame and muscle rather than fattened. This conclusion is rea- 

 sonable judging from the composition and character of this grain. 



