THE FEEDING OJ FARM STO( K. 7!»!» 



drain on the vitality <>f the ewe while the foetus is ''in utero" as when it 

 is horn, and just as much dependence <>n the mother for nutriment. The 

 ewes should be fed, if it is necessary to feed at all, during the whole period of 

 gestation — not just at the latter end, as is usually the ease. 



Should the ewes forsake the lambs, special feeding is necessary. If the 

 lambs are allowed to take their chance with the remainder of the Hock heavy 

 losses will result. Grain should be boiled or soaked before being fed to such 

 young stock, and care must be taken that it has not soured. 



Feed in Small J/oo-s. — It is recommended that feeding be undertaken in 

 small mobs. There should be never more than 1,000 in each ease, while 

 better results will be obtained where the mobs are onlv 500. 



The Water Supply. 



The water that sheep receive during a drought depends on the local 

 conditions. It is known to all sheepowners that sheep are fastidious about 

 their water supply ; be it tank, river, or bore, they take a liking to it, and 

 will often refuse water from other sources. As the river or tank begins to 

 dry the percentage of vegetation and mineral matter in it increases, and the 

 sheep continue to drink it. If droved to another tank or supply they may 

 refuse to drink for some days, especially if it is clear and free from rubbish. 



These facts, however, do not affect the general principle that water for 

 stock should be as fresh and pure as possible. Because sheep have taken a 

 liking to a pool of muddy water, full of decaying weeds and vegetation, is no 

 reason why they should be permitted to use it if another and better supply 

 can be obtained. Such water not only contains the impurities referred to r 

 but also enormous numbers of putrefactive bacteria. Owing to shortage of 

 food, the animal's system is already weakened, and these foreign matters 

 irritate the digestive organs and have a far more dangerous effect than in 

 normal seasons. 



Watering, at all times and seasons, is far better carried out by troughs. 

 Even in the western districts, it is often possible to sink wells and raise the 

 water with windmills. The water so obtained is in every way prefeiable to 

 that saved in tanks. Tt is clean, fresh, and cool, and has not the sediment of 

 mud and dung which is usually present at the open end of a tank where many 

 animals water. In addition, the supply is far more likely to be permanent. 

 The necessity for troughs in sheep paddocks watered by bore drains is not so 

 great, since the sheep have a great length of drain at which to water, and 

 the water is not stagnant. A further advantage of watering from troughs 

 lies in the fact that sheep are less liable to infection from parasitic worms, 

 which danger alw T ays exists about open tanks. 



Where, however, these tanks are the only supply available, steps should be 

 taken to purify the water which has become foul and heavily charged with 

 decaying vegetation and mineral matter. Water containing much mud may 

 be clari6ed with lime or alum. If it contains much decaying organic 

 material, it contains as well numerous putrefactive bacteria. At all times 

 this is unsuitable for stock, but in drought times the sheep are more liable to 

 gastrointestinal derangements, and this at the very time when the water is 

 more heavily charged with harmful bacteria. The purification of such water 

 can be accomplished by the addition of chloride of lime, one part to one 

 million parts of water. 



