CHAPTER III. 

 WINTER CARE AND FEEDING. 



WINTER GRAIN FOR THE EWE FLOCK. 



Sheep will thrive on the grains and roughage 

 which are grown on the average farm. Breeding 

 ewes that come into winter quarters in good con- 

 dition do not need a great deal of grain. The 

 flockowner should aim not to let them run down 

 in .condition, as is often done. Wherever breeding 

 ewes are forced to go through a process of starva- 

 tion in the winter time great loss and all sorts of 

 trouble appear toward spring and lambing time. 

 While breeding ewes should not be poor in condi- 

 tion, it is also a mistake to have them too fat. 

 However, if the writer had to make a choice be- 

 tween the two conditions, he would prefer the 

 latter. 



A mixture consisting of one and one-half parts 

 oats and one part bran has given very satisfactory 

 results when fed to pregnant ewes. The oats 

 strengthen the ewes, and the bran is laxative and 

 serves to keep the digestive organs in good work- 

 ing order. All fat producing varieties of grain, 

 such as corn, barley, rye, oilmeal, and cottonseed 

 meal, cannot be recommended to be extensively 



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