WESTERN LAMB FEEDING 277 



The climate is another matter. Sheep want dry 

 footing and dry coats. They cannot endure muddy 

 yards and wet, dripping skies. Therefore, before 

 we attempt to feed lambs we must provide a some- 

 what artificial climate. This is done with shingles 

 to turn off the wet. Mature sheep are very often 

 fattened altogether in open yards and western 

 Merinos have fleeces that turn rain fairly well, but 

 lambs in the exposure do not thrive and it is folly 

 to attempt feeding them east of the Missouri River 

 without some shelter from rain. North of Illinois, 

 however, where rains are infrequent and snows 

 light and dry, sheds are sometimes dispensed with, 

 but that is really ouside the cornbelt. 



The character of the barn or shed used is not 

 essential. It may be a simple roof open on two or 

 three sides, to which hay will be hauled on wagons 

 from ricks. The writer has such a feeding plant 

 and uses it to good advantage. It may better be a 

 barn of two stories, the upper one stored with 

 alfalfa or clover hay. On the lower or ground floor 

 the lambs are fed. Their part should be eight feet 

 high in the clear, all in one large room, which may 

 be divided as desired by use of racks or movable 

 panels. 



Through this room there should be opportunity 

 to drive transversely through nearly or quite every 

 bent or space between posts. To accomplish this 

 doors must constitute the whole length, preferably 

 on the north and south sides of the building, which 

 mav well stand east and west. 



