40 SHEEP FEEDING 



sixty to ninety days and not more than from twelve to 

 twenty pounds' gain can be made. A Wyoming or an Idaho 

 would be a good choice, for they reach the markets rather 

 early and are of the proper weight. Purchase them so that 

 they will reach the farm as soon as the catch crops have 

 made a good growth, particularly the cowpeas, which, if 

 possible, should have set some pods. This time will vary 

 from the last half of August to the latter part of September. 

 It is generally figured that a good growth of cowpeas and 

 rape will fatten from seven to ten lambs per acre, the num- 

 ber depending primarily on the abundance of the growth, 

 its maturity, and the number of pounds of gain put on the 

 lambs. Let us figure on a forty-acre cornfield fattening a 

 double deck, about three hundred head. Half the field has 

 cowpeas growing in it and the other half, rape ; a tempo- 

 rary fence divides the two. The cowpeas will be ruined 

 after the first hard frost, so they are pastured first. This 

 point must be kept in mind when buying the lambs, for 

 they should always be purchased early enough to consume 

 the cowpeas before a freeze. 



Starting the lambs slowly on feed. As soon as the lambs 

 are unloaded at the home station they will appear half 

 starved and eagerly eat every blade of green growth they 

 can find. Let this serve as a warning and do not turn them 

 into the fields too soon, for such a move is sure to result 

 in a severe loss. When the sheep reach home put them on 

 a very short pasture and leave them there about twenty- 

 four hours, being sure that an abundant supply of pure 

 clean water and some salt are available. The second day 

 they may be turned into a better pasture, or into the field of 

 corn and peas, being careful that they do not scatter through 

 the corn and get in such shape that it will be impossible to 



