FROM WEANING TO MARKET, 271 



He has found it better to keep them in healthy stock order — 

 giving plenty of green food, and a small quantity only of oilcake, 

 or cake and split beans mixed, until the end of June or 

 beginning of July, by which time they will have developed some 

 bone and size. Yery forcing feeding in an early season is apt 

 to make the lambs go wrong later on. 



Sheep frequently suffer in hot dry weather from want of 

 water. An unreasonable prejudice formerly prevailed, and 

 possibly still exists in the minds of some shepherds, against 

 the use of water, under the belief that it induces scouring — an 

 erroneous opinion, arising from its improper use. If, as is too 

 often the case, the lambs are kept on dry food (i.e., food that is 

 getting old) without free access to water, and then are allowed 

 to drink without stint, scouring is inevitable, and sometimes is 

 attended with fatal results ; but if the animal is always pro- 

 vided with water, and can drink when it likes, the imbibition 

 will be with discretion and eminently advantageous. It is only 

 man who is excessive in his drinking. We therefore advocate 

 the providing water in iron troughs during summer. When 

 the sheep are on the turnips it is no longer necessary. 



In August the careful manager will have some early rape 

 ready ; and he must be careful not to put the lambs on during 

 wet weather, or when the dew is heavy, or there will assuredly 

 be mischief. It should be remembered that rape is very 

 succulent and blood-making food, consequently there is danger 

 of scouring and considerable loss from improper use ; indeed, 

 this applies to all changes : they should be as gradual as 

 possible. Now it is a good plan to mix rape and vetches as an 

 introduction, and in the same way to grow a small area of rape 

 and turnips, and thus bring the lambs gradually to their main 

 food. But the rawness of unripe food may be modified by the 

 use of artificial food. We believe that decorticated cotton-seed 

 cake, when good, is very valuable, and better suited to counter- 

 act the effect of green food than linseed cake, which is itself 

 slightly purgative. Malt dust is also valuable when it can be 

 easily procured. A quarter of a pound of each would be quite 

 ample at this stage. Serious losses frequently occur when tegs 

 are first placed upon swedes, entirely arising from the want of 

 • due preparation. Sudden changes of food are always to be 



