68 SHEEP DISEASES. 



nant ewes are given a small quantity of oats to- 

 wards lambing time. Alsike, clover, rape, rye, 

 roots, and many other foods are used, depending 

 on the locality and cost of feed. Timothy is very 

 constipating, leading to "blind staggers," follow- 

 ing impaction. Those sections supplied with 

 "bunch-grass" and where the snow is not deep 

 are fortunate, for nothing else is needed, except 

 sulphur and salt. 



In the East, and for fitting sheep for exhibition, 

 silage, cabbage and concentrated foods of many 

 kinds are used. 



Shepherd's Calendar. 



March: The lambing season. This depends 

 greatly upon the locality and breed. 



April: When about two weeks old the lambs 

 are docked, branded, and the males castrated. 

 The feet of the whole band should be attended to. 



May: The sheep are sheared and dipped and 

 started for their summer range. 



June, July and August: Feeding in the forest 

 ranges, often in sight of snow-capped mountains. 

 This is one reason why western sheep are so 

 healthy and thrifty; they are far above the 

 parasite-infested lowlands. The lambs are weaned 

 when about four to five months old. 



September: Toward the latter part of this 

 month, the band is slowly trailed back home. In 

 the Northwest, fields of wheat and oats "stubble" 

 are purchased to turn the sheep into. In Colorado 

 field peas are used. 



October: The band is culled, and the bucks 



