282 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



can be concreted all the better, since it will then be 

 very easily kept clean. 



The reason for having a small yard is so that it 

 may the more readily be kept dry and clean, and 

 because in a large yard there is too much waste of 

 manure. Lambs in the fattening pen do not need 

 much exercise and are the better not to have it. 



Practices differ in regard to shutting lambs up 

 or letting them have the run of the yard. In Mich- 

 igan large feeders commonly put lambs in the barn 

 and leave them there until fat. It is unusual to 

 find them ever in the yards. Thus all of the manure 

 is saved, the liquids as well as the solids, and a large 

 part of the value of the manure is in the liquids. I 

 cannot see that their death loss is higher than that 

 of men who let their lambs run out at will. I do 

 not think it so high. Their gains are as good as 

 any and better than one usually finds. 



On eastern farms it is a wise practice to turn 

 lambs into the yard only long enough to allow the 

 men to put feed in the racks, then immediately to 

 shut them in until the next feeding time. Thus 

 treated, there will be no disturbance by passing 

 dogs or men; the lambs will be always near their 

 feed and will eat more regularly, and the great sav- 

 ing of manure will be a source of considerable 

 profit. 



A word, too, about hay. With timothy hay in the 

 mow no attempt should be made to fatten lambs. 

 Oat straw is as good, or as bad. Bright shredded 

 corn stover is a little better, and when fed in con- 



