A PASTURE HANDBOOK 



79 



after that from rape sown in the cornfields. At a still later time the 

 early fall-sown grain furnishes pasturage untU the coming winter. 



A small acreage of rape or some other forage crop will usually be 

 deshable as an insurance against possible shortage of pasturage in 

 other fields, and more particularly as a safe and satisfactory feed for 

 ewe lambs that are retained for breeding and cannot safely remain 

 with the ewes, particularly if the latter are part of the time on land 

 that may be worm infested. 



FENCING SHEEP PASTURES 



Movable or temporary fencing is used extensively in grazing sheep 

 as they do not require strong fences and, under farm conditions, it is 

 important that they be confined to what they will clean up in a few 

 weeks. 



A handy style of movable fence consists of 32-inch woven wire 

 supported by so-called "Illinois posts" made of half-inch iron rods. 



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Figure 22. — Grazing on winter wheat. In the late fall, winter, and early spring, sheep, and cattle as well, 

 may be grazed on winter wheat, barley, oats, and rye with benefit to the stock, saving in feed costs, and 

 little or no damage to the grain. But it is best to keep them off when the ground is muddy. 



Eight inches from the foot of the post there is a branch at right angles. 

 This branch runs out about 8 inches and then turns downward 

 parallel with the post itself. Tliis post can be set readily by pressing 

 on the branch \\dth the foot. The shape of the bottom part gives 

 bracing enough to prevent the sheep from pushing the fence over. 

 The bottom of the fence is kept in place by passing the post between 

 two of the lower wdi-es. The top wire lies in a groove made in the top 

 of the post. 



Permanent fences enclosing tracts of land used for sheep should be 

 dog proof. Woven wire from 36 to 42 inches high with stay wires 6 

 inches apart and 2 or 3 barbed wires above are used for this purpose. 



PASTURES FOR GOATS 



The grazing of goats is similar to that of sheep, except that goats 

 make more extensive and more efficient use of browse such as shrubs 

 and brush. Also, where plenty of feed is available, goats do not graze 

 so closely as sheep and are, therefore, less likely to suffer from the 



