356 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN FEEDING 



centrate is procured depends largely upon cost. Tons of salvage 

 are used (salvage is damaged grain, such as com and wheat taken 

 from elevator fires), but com of the better commercial grades is 

 frequently shipped in. 



Those who feed entirely under shelter would prefer to finish two 

 different bands of sheep or lambs each season. If possible, they 

 would like to receive the first shipment soon enough in the fall to 

 be able to get it to market early in the new year. Then the second 

 shipment, which is always shorn before it leaves the barn, can come 

 in any time after the first has been shipped. Of late years the 

 scarcity of feeders has prevented many from feeding two bands in a 

 season. Instead, they have purchased the one shipment rather late, 

 fed them so as to produce a fair rate of gain, and have marketed 

 them after shearing. It is not an uncommon practice for Michigan 

 and other feeders east of Chicago, to buy the unfinished sheep and 

 lambs from the stalk fields further west. These are very suitable 

 for feeding late in winter and shearing before marketing. 



Feeding under shelter has several advantages which other 

 methods lack. First, there is no waste of feed. Second, there is no 

 waste of manure. The latter, though overlooked hitherto by many 

 feeders, surely will not be disregarded much longer. Third, adverse 

 weather conditions are not so serious a matter where the feeding is 

 done under shelter. Fourth, certain types of feeders, such as little, 

 weak, cheap " peewee " lambs can be handled, which could not be 

 used at all under any other method. An attempt to feed them in 

 the open would be an immense risk. 



The disadvantage, if any, of feeding under shelter lies in the 

 cost of equipment. 



First Over Fields and Then Under Shelter. This is a type of 

 feeding practiced by those who have a great deal of land and who 

 produce nearly or quite all of their feed. They have a great deal of 

 feed left in the fields which either could not be harvested or which 

 they do not see fit to harvest. By allowing the sheep to run on these 

 fields, at least a part of this feed is consumed and the cost of finish- 

 ing the animals is thereby lessened. When the weather turns bad 

 the sheep or lambs are brought to the barns and finished on the feeds 

 stored for the purpose. 



Those who follow this method usually feed out but one shipment 

 of sheep or lambs in a year. Generally they ship back to market 

 rather early, but they may keep the animals on the fields until late 

 and not market until after shearing time. 



