PENNING SHEEP 



THE FIELD. 



31 



brought into grass or clover by judicious management in this way. 

 Portions of such a field may be set dff with hurdles as before de- 

 scribed, a rough shed erected in which the sheep may be secured 

 at night, and in which an ample supply of bedding or dry earth, or 

 other absorbent is placed beneath them, and here the crop grown 

 upon another part of the farm, aided by purchased food, if such 

 be available, is fed in portable troughs 

 or racks. A very convenient rack is the 

 one shown in fig. 8. This is extremely 

 portable, and may be moved from one 

 part of the field to another with great 

 ease. Where sheep are permanently 

 kept, and fixed arrangements are made 

 for the flock, it is frequently found con- 

 venient to provide a permanent and safe 

 shed, in a central position, in which they 

 may be confined at night, and from which 

 they can be turned into different fields or 

 portions of the farm. A shed that has 

 been found very convenient in use is 

 shown at fig. 9. It is built at the center 

 of four fields, and has doors opening into 

 each of them, and is so arranged that it 

 may be entirely closed from all but the 

 one which may be in use at the time. 



For the protection of the sheep at 

 night, small paddocks may be fenced in 

 around this shed, and safety from dogs 

 secured by the use of dog guards. These 

 consist of wires made to run above the 

 fence or at right angles with the top of 

 it, as shown at figures 10 and 11. 



The separation of the flock into parts 

 consisting of ewes and lambs, weaned 

 lambs and weaklings, and rams and 

 wethers, is very necessary. Ewes and 

 nursing lambs should be provided with 

 the best and tenderest pastures; the weaned lambs and weak 

 sheep should have a place where they can be furnished with some 

 extra feed without interference from stronger neighbors, and 

 rams and wethers may do well enough on the coarser herbage. 

 A frequent change of pasture is very advantageous for the flock. 

 $heep naturally love change, and after they have wandered over ft 



