276 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



quality, dipped and turned into the sheds, where 

 they remain until fat. Usually no hay is fed or re- 

 quired, the bulky nature of the screenings render- 

 ing them all-sufficient for properly distending the 

 lamb. 



At one time large profits ensued from feeding 

 lambs on screenings. The millers, curiously enough, 

 .became aware of this fact and began steadily to 

 raise the price of screenings. As lamb prices ad- 

 vanced so did screenings, till at this writing the 

 margin is not large and a bad year would wipe it 

 out altogether. 



In Michigan and nearby states a great many 

 lambs are fed "salvage grain "; that is, grain that 

 has been through a fire or become overheated in the 

 elevator bins by reason of being stored in too moist 

 a condition. If the salvage grain (wheat, oats, bar- 

 ley or sometimes even a mixture with flaxseed in it) 

 is heavy, lambs will thrive very well indeed on it. 

 The charred grains seem to be good for the diges- 

 tion and do not weigh very much. 



SHEEP FEEDING IN THE COKNBELT. 



In the cornbelt proper the conditions for feed- 

 ing are generally good so far as abundance of food 

 is concerned. Corn is a staple and must find a mar- 

 ket. Hay is readily grown, and late experience has 

 shown that wherever there is limestone soil, or 

 sweet and fertile soil, alfalfa may be grown. Ked 

 clover is usually easily grown. Thus there is a 

 ready source of food for sheep. 



