DISEASES OF SHEEP 595 



change of grazing ground, it is of interest to note that the feeding 

 habits of sheep differ considerably under the different conditions. 

 On the plains sheep eat preferably the short fine grass and avoid 

 weeds, while on the mountain ranges they feed to a great extent upon 

 the native plants other than grasses which grow in such situations. 

 It is a fact, generally observed, that sheep do not take kindly to the 

 tall mature grass which is found on mountain ranges in the month 

 of July. The plants on mountain ranges, which furnish a great part 

 of the forage for sheep, include five-finger, spiraea, golden-rod, wild 

 sunflower, sand vetches, wild licorice, wild geranium, and lupines. 



A number of the native plants which are known to be poison- 

 ous are so far advanced by the time the sheep are taken to the sum- 

 mer range that they are too coarse and unpalatable to be eaten by 

 sheep. This is especially true of the purple larkspur and death 

 camas, the latter being quite dry and shriveled by the middle of 

 June. The water hemlock is not so common in me mountains as 

 along the small streams of the plains, and in its mature stages is so 

 coarse that it is seldom eaten by sheep. The tall larkspur does not 

 ordinarily grow on the plains, and is too coarse for sheep forage 

 during the season from July to September. 



With regard to the mountain ranges of the State, especial men- 

 tion should be made of the native species of lupines. These plants 

 are apparently poisonous only when containing ripe seeds, and it 

 was observed that sheep seldom eat this plant on the range during 

 mid-summer. After the fall frosts the lupine pods open and the 

 seeds fall out. In this condition it is often eaten in great quantities 

 by sheep, especially after snowstorms, when other forage is cov- 

 ered up. 



The effect of alkali upon stock and its possible action predis- 

 posing them toward eating poisonous plants is much discussed by 

 stockmen, but not well understood. The belief is gradually gaining 

 ground that sheep are kept in better condition by regular salting, and 

 are less apt to develop a perverted appetite than when left without 

 salt and allowed to seek for alkali as the only possible substitute. 

 The most common forms of alkali found in Montana are sulphate 

 of soda and Epsom salts. It would seem impossible for these sub- 

 stances to take the place of common salt in the physiology of domes- 

 ticated animals. It must still remain doubtful whether any serious 

 cases of poisoning are to be attributed to the continued eating of 

 alkali or drinking of alkaline water, but in a few instances direct 

 evidence was obtained that the appetite of the sheep" was perverted 

 by the use of alkalis, and that more extensive poisoning occurred 

 from eating poisonous plants than in the case of sheep that were 

 regularly salted. 



CONDITIONS WHICH FAVOR POISONING. 



In discussing the conditions under which poisoning occurs, at- 

 tention should also be called to the methods of managing sheep which 

 are at present in vogue. The most serious cases of poisoning observed 

 have occurred while sheep were being driven from one point to 

 another at a more rapid rate than would be assumed under normal 



