154 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA ] 



to remain and permanently to replenish the breed- 

 ing flock. 



FEEDING CORN ON GRASS. 



While in winter time on dry feed it is essential 

 to feed bran, oilmeal or soybeans to supply the 

 requisite protein to the growing lambs, there is not 

 so much need of supplying protein when on grass, 

 that is, if the lambs are destined for the butcher. 

 Green grass is more nitrogenous than dry hay and 

 there are -many clovers usually mixed in the grass 

 so that a ration of corn (maize) alone will serve a 

 good purpose. This may as well be fed in the ear, 

 laying it in troughs ; or if there is a clean sward of 

 thick grass the ears may simply be scattered about 

 upon it, in a fresh spot each day. To do this before 

 the lambs are weaned it is of course necessary to 

 fence off a part of the pasture away from the ewes, 

 allowing only the lambs to have access to it. No 

 more corn should ever be fed at a time than they 

 will consume and that they may eat it regularly care 

 should be taken to see that every lamb is there at 

 feeding time. If troughs are set close by, in which 

 a few handfuls of oats are strewn for the ewes, the 

 shepherd can readily call the whole flock up at feed- 

 ing time and the lambs will rush through their creeps 

 to get to their corn while the mothers are munch- 

 ing the sparing allowance doled out to them. 



Gains on grass when lambs have had a good start 

 in winter are surprisingly rapid. By the first of 

 June the February lambs will often weigh 80 pounds, 



