646 FEEDING OF SHEEP. 



which grows from Texas to Indian Territory and ranges northward 

 into Illinois, is a valuable feeder, as is bunch-grass, blue-mail or 

 blue-point. Sage grass is considered a desirable food; also the 

 " Beverage grass" of the Western States and the Alfalfa of Cali- 

 fornia. 



How to Regulate Pasture Feeding Oare must be 

 taken not to overstock pastures, as when the grass is too close to the 

 ground the sheep take too much earth into their stomachs, and the 

 tendency is to wear down the teeth and reduce the feeding quality 

 of the sheep. Neither is it wise to have too few sheep in a pasture, 

 as the pasture should be kept short and thick. This can be well 

 regulated by means of hurdle-feeding. 



Selection of Breeding Ewes While the lambs are 

 growing up to breeding age, those of prime form and good feeders 

 should be picked out for breeding. No profit comes from a slow 

 feeder. These should be culled out for fattening for young mutton. 



Shelter for Sheep If sheep are to be maintained in good 

 condition during the winter, they must have efficient shelter, and 

 the same is necessary for protection from the cold rains and storms 

 of summer. Sheds should have a southerly opening, and a portion 

 of them should be thoroughly enclosed, where shearing, marking, 

 sorting and doctoring maybe carried on, and especially forlambing- 

 places and the confinement of newly-sheared sheep. 



Proper Method of Winter Feeding Sheep Sheep 

 should not run or be fed in yards with other stock. Cattle often 

 hook and kill them, and colts tease and injure them. They should 

 be fed all they will eat, but should not have provender to waste. 

 Dry fodder is necessary to be fed throughout the North. Many 

 flocks are fed on hay (timothy and clover), and do well, but it is 

 well to have the food varied. Some shepherds add fodder of corn- 

 stalks and straw, and others supply a daily feed of grain through - 

 out the winter. If hay is the principal feed, the herder will find it 

 desirable to give cornstalks once a day, or at least every fourth or 

 fifth feed. If other feed than hay is the chief nourishment pro- 

 vided, corn blades or pea-stalks will be found good. Provided a 

 proper supply of palatable nutriment within a proper compass is 

 given, the particular kind of feed may be suited to the convenience 

 of the feeder. Hay, corn -blades and properly -cured pea-stalks are 

 palatable, and each supply the proper nutriment in the quantity 

 which the sheep can readily take into its stomach, and consequently 

 from either of these, the sheep can derive its entire subsistence. 

 These remarks also apply to greenish cut oats and barley straw. 

 The flock-master must be somewhat guided by his observation of 

 what best agrees with his flock, as conditions of locality, etc., will 

 have an influence. 



Kinds of Feed that Produce Most Wool We have 

 mentioned the necessity of good feed in order to insure desirable 

 production of wool. There is a striking analogy between the 



