40 Sheep Management. 



and most satisfactory way to get them to exercise 

 freely is to haul their roughage out into the field 

 and spread it in small bunches, so that they will 

 have to run from one place to another to pick it 

 up. John Miller, a very prominent and success- 

 ful sheep breeder in Canada, makes it a point to 

 have his breeding ewes walk two miles every day 

 when the weather permits. They leave the home 

 farm in the morning and walk to an adjoining 

 farm one mile distant where the hay is fed, and 

 then return again in the evening. 



On all days when the weather is favorable, 

 breeding ewes should be* out of doors for exer- 

 cise. On all wet, rainy, or stormy days sheep 

 should never be turned out. The flockmaster must 

 exercise judgment in this respect. To let the sheep 

 get their fleeces soaking wet in the winter time is 

 a grievous mistake. There is not enough warm 

 sunshine in winter to dry them out again, and 

 sheep carrying wet coats on their backs are liable 

 to contract colds or pneumonia, which may result 

 in death. 



Some sheep owners allow their breeding ewes 

 to exercise by picking on straw stacks. This 

 method is not advisable, as a great deal of chaff, 

 dirt, and other material gets into their wool. Oth- 

 ers force their sheep to make their entire living all 

 winter long from a straw stack. Such men as 



