798 THE farmers' handbook. 



the formation of matted masses and balls of indigestible matter in the 

 stomach and intestines. To combat this, molasses, Epsom salts, salt, etc., 

 may be used in solution or as a lick. In purchasing a proprietary lick make 

 certain that it contains no astringent salt, such as sulphate of iron. 



W hen to stop Hand-feeding. —After the first rains have fallen and grass and 

 herbage make their first shoot, hand-feeding should not at once be dis- 

 continued. The young green stuff does not contain much nutriment, and it 

 is very laxative in action. The sudden change of diet is liable to cause 

 severe scouring, so that hand-feeding should be continued until the natural 

 food available is" able to supply the necessary nutriment. Another reason 

 for continued feeding is that the change of weather often has a detrimental 

 effect on the sheep, and they are liable to be lost if not kept in good heart. 

 Often it will be noted that in spite of their hunger sheep do not take to the 

 young herbage at once. Losses are often heavier after the rain than during 

 the drought, and much of the loss is due to the sudden discontinuance of hand 

 feeding. These losses are, of course, quite apart from those due to flood 

 waters, or to sheep being cut off from assistance, and are most often 

 noted in lambing ewes. 



Mixed Feeds are Advisable. — In hand-feeding no one food is sufficient to 

 keep up the animal's strength. Under normal grazing conditions stock have 

 the selection of a variety of herbage, and in artificial feeding variety 

 should still be provided. To do this a balanced ration — that is, a ration 

 combining all the constituents necessary for the health and natural growth 

 of the body — should be adopted This is best obtained by the use of grain, 

 combined with some leguminous fodder. Of course, it is understood that 

 these are not always available, or the prices ma}' be prohibitive, and the 

 grazier may be compelled to make what arrangements he can, according to 

 local circumstances. It is also advisable, where it can be carried out, to vary 

 the food so that the sheep may have a change of diet. This is of consider- 

 able advantage to the natural economy of the animal's body, and the sheep 

 relish the change and will keep in better strength Kecau'se of it. 



Feeding should be Regular. — Even if the amounts given are only small, feed 

 should be supplied regularly. At first the sheep will need to be mustered, 

 but with regular feeding this soon becomes unnecessary. A little food 

 given daily will produce better results than larger amounts at irregular 

 intervals. 



Give Special Attention to Weak Animals. — Arrangements must be made to 

 feed the weaker sheep apart from the remainder of the flock. Undei 

 ordinary conditions the stronger and more pugnacious sheep get more feed 

 than the weak. This is especially the case where troughing is used. There 

 should be at least nine inches of troughing to each sheep. If the food is fed 

 from the ground it should be trailed or scattered in such a way as to give all 

 the sheep an equal chance. If necessary, the poorer sheep should be drafted 

 off into a different paddock and fed separately ; otherwise they will be robbeo 

 of their ration and death will result. Similarly, lambing ewes as they drop 

 their lambs should be placed in a separate paddock, where they will not b« 

 hindered by the lambs from obtaining their food. If this is not done tho 

 ewes either lose their rations or forsake their lambs in order to get their 

 own food. 



The Care of Lambing Ewes. — Lambing ewes should be fed before the time 

 of parturition approaches. In many eases it is not until a week before 

 lambing that it is decided to feed the ewes, but there is just as much 



