FEEDING SHEEP 233 



on the same land in the same field year after year 

 without change the pastures become foul, disease 

 lurks in the soil and dangerous parasites accumu- 

 late. For these reasons sheep should be changed 

 frequently from field to field, from year to year, and 

 except in the case of well-established permanent 

 pastures, crop rotation should be followed so the 

 fields may be clean of disease or parasites and may 

 be ever fresh with new-growing grass crops. 



Over a good part of the country timothy and 

 clover, with red top and alsike or white clover occa- 

 sionally mixed, comprise much of the pasture land. 

 The prairie grasses of the west and Bermuda grass 

 of the south take care of the local needs in these 

 parts of the country. Blue grass is the stand-by of 

 the old grazing sections ; in addition to it other 

 crops may find place and may be profitably grown. 

 Rye seeded in August makes a fairly good pasture 

 for lambs and old sheep in the fall. It will furnish 

 excellent grazing in the spring before the clovers, 

 alfalfa and blue grass are available. 



Some of the Best Grains. Corn stands first be- 

 cause it is so universally grown. It is well liked by 

 sheep and makes profitable gains. It may be fed 

 in the husk, on the stalk, in the feed rack, in the field, 

 crushed, ground or shelled. Some feeders dislike 

 to use corn when finely ground, because sheep eat it 

 too greedily. Ear corn is satisfactory for winter 

 yearlings and ewes. 



Oats are fed to some extent, but they should be 

 ground or crushed. They make excellent feed for 

 either lambs, or ewes in milk. Compared with many 



