GENERAL CARE OF SHEEP AND LAMBS 581 



superior to the more simple rations. When plenty of legume hay is 

 not fed to balance the ration, it is important that protein-rich feeds, 

 like wheat bran, linseed meal, field peas, or cottonseed meal, be used to 

 balance the ration. When suckling their lambs, ewes need a more 

 abundant supply of protein-rich feeds than previous to lambing. 



Linseed meal and wheat bran are important feeds for breeding ewes, 

 as they ward off constipation, which is responsible for many of the 

 winter troubles of the breeding flock. For this purpose 1 or 2 table- 

 spoonfuls of linseed meal a day should suffice. A trial by Russell at 

 the Oklahoma Station 5 shows that feeding as much as half a pound of 

 cottonseed meal daily a head to ewes in winter may produce poisonous 

 effects, tho one-quarter pound gave good results. 



Concentrate mixtures such as the following are very satisfactory for 

 pregnant ewes: (1) Shelled corn 5 parts, oats 3 parts, wheat bran 2 

 parts, linseed meal 1 part; 8 (2) corn 4 parts, linseed meal 1 part; 7 (3) 

 oats 1.5 parts, wheat bran 1 part. 8 



884. Roughages and succulent feeds for ewes. As has been pointed 

 out previously, legume hay is highly important in feeding breeding 

 sheep in winter. Not only is it rich in protein and lime, but it is also 

 laxative. Moreover, it is usually more economical to supply the neces- 

 sary protein for the ewes by feeding legume hay than thru purchasing 

 considerable amounts of protein-rich concentrates. Alfalfa, red and 

 alsike clover, cowpeas, vetch, soybeans, and a mixture of oats and peas, 

 all furnish good hay for ewes. Fine-stemmed, leafy hay is relished much 

 better by sheep than that which is coarse. Well-preserved pea or bean 

 straw is a fair substitute for legume hay. 



Timothy hay and marsh hay are unsatisfactory, for not only are 

 they unpalatable to sheep, but also they may cause serious constipa- 

 tion. Moreover, the heads of timothy work into the wool, irritating the 

 skin and lowering the quality of the wool. Bright corn fodder or corn 

 stover, cut while the leaves are still green, is much preferable, and good 

 bluegrass hay, oat hay, or even bright oat straw may often be used as 

 part of the roughage. Straw alone, however, is decidedly unsatisfactory 

 as the roughage for ewes. When no legume hay is fed, it will be neces- 

 sary to feed more concentrates, and these should furnish plenty of pro- 

 tein. When legume hay is fed as a considerable part of the roughage, 

 the ration will furnish plenty of lime, but otherwise there may be a de- 

 ficiency, unless other feeds in the ration are high in this mineral 

 nutrient. If lime is lacking, it should be furnished in such forms as 

 finely ground limestone or bone meal. (98-9, 838) 



Where some low-grade roughage must be fed to the ewes, it is best, 

 as Coffey points out, 9 to make use of the poorer roughages before lamb- 



B Okla. Bui. 125. "Productive Sheep Husbandry, p. 238. 



6 Severson, Penn. Bui. 144. 



7 Hammond, Ohio Bui. 270. 



"Kleinheinz, Sheep Management, Breeds, and Judging, p. 33. 



