142 BEITISH SHEEP AND SHEPHEEDING. 



very easily cleaned out. The troughs should be 7 ft. or 8 ft. in 

 length. 



In Winter. When the sheep are entirely fed on roots they 

 require sufficient troughs for all to feed at one time. First thing 

 in the morning the shepherd should clean out the troughs, and 

 give the sheep their chaff and corn. If the sheep have hay instead 

 of chaff it can be placed in the hay racks. If chaff is given they 

 are induced to eat more of it if they receive meal well mixed with 

 it, which is often desirable, particularly when first attempting 

 to make them eat a considerable quantity of dry food. The value 

 of getting sheep to eat dry fodder in early autumn is great, not 

 merely because it is useful at the time, but because, should snow 

 fall heavily, or through the muddy condition of the arable land, 

 they have to be removed, and put on to dry food, they will take 



SHEEP RACK FOE HAY AND CORN. 



freely to it ; whereas those which have not been accustomed to it, 

 will be slow to take it, and will sometimes almost starve before 

 doing so. For the same reason it is advantageous to break them 

 early to cake or corn. When giving the corn the shepherd should 

 make his dog keep back the sheep until all the corn is in the troughs, 

 so that all may receive an equal share. This is especially necessary 

 when sheep are being fed at high pressure ; for sometimes sheep 

 become cake greedy, and, being quick eaters, will eat far more 

 than their share, with the result that they overdo themselves, 

 and often die, whilst the slow feeders do not get their share. He 

 should carefully watch them to see that they come up promptly, 

 and that when they have got to the troughs they feed, otherwise he 

 may miss seeing an ailing sheep. As soon as the corn is cleared 

 up he should fill the troughs with cut roots until he notices they 

 begin to draw away to rest, and digest their meal. He may then 



