308 SHEEP FARMING IN AMERICA 



it will not be practicable to feed shock corn all the 

 season. If the sheep have their teeth they will shell 

 the ear corn so readily that it is not worth while 

 shelling it for them. 



The hay racks are best in shelter of sheds so that 

 the hay cannot become wet with rains. And if there 

 is room so that all can be sheltered from soaking 

 storms all the better. Dry cold and snow will not 

 hurt but wet is a serious setback. 



Many sheep feeders rely upon self-feeders and 

 shelled corn for the finishing of the sheep. These 

 are usually large bins, holding 20 to 100 bushels 

 each, with troughs on either side into which the corn 

 descends slowly. There seems less objection to the 

 use of the self-feeder for mature sheep than for 

 lambs. The writer believes, however, that the great- 

 er profit comes from regular feeding in troughs of 

 rations a little under the appetites of the sheep. 



A better and safer self-feeder is the self -feeding 

 corncrib. This is built with a capacity of hundreds 

 of thousands of bushels, with a large trough at the 

 side into which the corn descends. Sheep shell this 

 corn at their will and the cobs are thrown out as 

 they gather. 



Sheep ought to gain on feed from one to four 

 pounds per week, depending on their condition and 

 the stage of feeding. The gains are most rapid just 

 before approaching ripeness. 



Death losses in feeding mature sheep should be 

 slightly less than in feeding lambs. Naturally gains 

 are less since there is not opportunity for much 



