GENERAL PROBLEMS IN SHEEP HUSBANDRY 543 



others which had the shelter of an open shed. Lambs confined in a 

 barn made slightly smaller and less economical gains than those in the 

 open shed. 



In districts with a mild winter climate, all that is needed is protec- 

 tion from winter rains and driving snows. Where the winters are rela- 

 tively dry, most feeders believe that there is no advantage in providing 

 even an open shed, but they feed fattening lambs in a yard with no 

 shelter except a board windbreak. To study this matter Gramlich fed 



2 lots of lambs at the Nebraska Station 11 during a winter when there 

 were 2 hard rains and considerable snow and cold weather. Lambs fed 

 in a yard with merely a windbreak made just as rapid gains as where 

 an open shed was provided and returned a slightly larger profit. In 



3 trials at the Eastern Oregon Branch Station 12 by Withy combe and 

 Potter, lambs having access to an open shed made slightly larger gains 

 than others which were fed in a yard with no shelter, and required 3.5 

 per ct. less grain and 3.2 per ct. less hay for 100 Ibs. gain. The con- 

 clusion reached was that while the shed paid fair returns, it afforded no 

 profit over interest and depreciation. On the other hand, in a trial by 

 Mumford, Trowbridge, and Hackedorn at the Missouri Station 13 year- 

 ling wethers fed in a yard made smaller gains and required over 19 

 per ct. more feed than others which had access to a barn. From these 

 trials we may conclude that for fattening sheep or lambs which are 

 heavily fed and warmly coated there is no advantage in providing more 

 shelter than an open shed except in the extreme northern states. This 

 should open to the south or east to afford shelter from the prevailing 

 winds and should be kept well bedded. In the arid regions, protection 

 from driving winds and sandstorms is all that is essential. 



832. Exercise. For the breeding flock abundant exercise thruout the 

 year is essential. (881) However, for fattening lambs or sheep only 

 limited exercise is preferable. This is shown in trials by Humphrey and 

 Kleinheinz during 3 years at the Wisconsin Station 1 * in which one lot 

 of wether lambs was kept in a dry, airy, well-lighted pen in the barn 

 during fattening, while another lot was turned out daily for exercise 

 when the weather permitted. The lambs turned out for exercise made 

 slightly smaller gains and required over 16 per ct. more feed for 100 

 Ibs. gain than those more closely confined. 



833. Grinding grain. Of all farm animals the sheep is best able to 

 do its own grinding, and with few exceptions whole grains only should 

 be furnished. (423) The common saying of feeders, "a sheep which 

 cannot grind its own grain is not worth feeding/' is a truthful one. 

 There is generally no advantage in grinding or crushing corn, oats, 

 ordinary barley, emmer, or grain sorghums for sheep. It is well to 

 grind such hard seeds as hulless barley, millet, and screenings contain- 

 ing small weed seeds. Usually whole wheat is satisfactory, but some- 



"Nebr. Bui. 173. 13 Mo. Bui. 115. 



12 Ore. Bui. 175. "Wis. Rpts. 1904, 1905. 



